Skopje, 6 May 2022 (MIA) – North Macedonia and Albania have excellent bilateral cooperation and every meeting is an opportunity to further promote it, exchange experience in the area of agriculture and facilitate trade, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Ljupcho Nikolovski and his Albanian counterpart Frida Krifca agreed at a working meeting in Tirana on Friday. The two pointed out that the signed bilateral and multilateral agreements are a proof of the cooperation between North Macedonia and Albania, enabling citizens to cooperate in all areas of social life. The Open Balkan initiative strengthens cooperation between the two countries, enabling them to facilitate and develop mutual trade in plants and plant-based products, which the two ministers noted is being implemented very well, the Agriculture Ministry said in a press release. Talks also tackled boosting cooperation between the two countries in terms of trade in products of animal origin, through joint analysis and mutual recognition of all necessary certificates. As part of the Open Balkan initiative, the press release adds, the working group on agriculture will hold a meeting May 12-13 in Tirana. Minister Nikolovski, who was accompanied by Deputy Minister Abdulshuqur Abedini and state counselor Trajan Dimkovski, stressed the importance of the agreement on phytosanitary cooperation that the two countries signed in October, 2020. Minister Krifca also noted that results of the agreement on phytosanitary and veterinary cooperation are successful, expressing gratitude to Minister Nikolovski for the support in aligning legislation in the area of veterinary and phytosanitary issues. Nikolovski announced that a conference will be organized together with FAO in July on consolidation of fragmented agricultural land in Bitola, which is a successful example of consolidation of agricultural land. The agreement on joint sustainable management of fisheries in Ohrid and Prespa enables the two countries to closely cooperate in terms of all issues related to long-term sustainable management of both lakes, as well as sustainable use and protection of fish stocks, Nikolovski said, adding that he expects a constitutive session of the joint committee to be held in the country soon.