Skopje, 8 September 2022 (MIA) - Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj, who is paying an official visit to the Czech Republic, met Thursday with his counterpart, the Minister of European Affairs Mikuláš Bek and discussed next plans and steps of the Czech EU Presidency. “On North Macedonia’s Independence Day I am paying a working visit to the Czech Republic, which marked the beginning of its EU presidency with the opening of accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania,” said Deputy PM Marichikj, expressing his satisfaction on realization of that historic moment for North Macedonia. Marichikj and Bek agreed that in such a turbulent time, the most important thing is to nurture good relations and have real friends, with whom we will jointly overcome the challenges that Europe is facing. “The Czech Republic is our partner and remains open to helping the Western Balkan countries to advance toward the EU and for the region to be part of the dialogue for solving and overcoming the crises,” Marichikj said. The Czech Minister of European Affairs Bek said that the Czech Republic is a sincere friend and a strong supporter of North Macedonia in the European integration process and that it will remain during their presidency of the Union. “At the right moment, you took the right step. I congratulate you on the opening of EU accession talks and I am happy that this happened during the Czech EU Presidency,” Bek noted. Moreover, Deputy PM Marichikj alongside Culture Minister Bisera Kostadinovska Stojchevska met with the chairman of the Parliamentary European Affairs Committee Ondřej Benešík, the chairperson of the Inter-parliamentary friendship group between North Macedonia and the Czech Republic, Petr Beitl and MP Zdenka Němečková Crkvenjaš. The talks were focused on start of North Macedonia's EU accession negotiations and the final preparations we are making for the screening process, with a focus on the excellent cooperation between North Macedonia and the Czech Republic and opportunities to intensify cooperation in the area of European integration.