Skopje, 2 June 2022 (MIA) – Bilateral relations and issues of global interest will be in the focus of the North Macedonia-United States Strategic Dialogue that begins in Washington on Thursday. Discussions will tackle defense and security, energy, economic cooperation, trade and investments, cultural cooperation, education, democratic development and fight against corruption, but also regional cooperation. The dialogue will also include the Euro-integration process of North Macedonia and the region, the country’s OSCE Chairmanship in 2023, as well as current security challenges and their implications on transatlantic security. Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani heads the Macedonian delegation, also including Defense Minister Slavjanka Petrovska, Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi Culture Minister Bisera Kostadinovska Stojchevska, while Deputy PM for good governance policies Slavica Grkovska is set to take part online. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Karen Donfried will host the Strategic Dialogue meeting. A joint statement will be adopted at the end of the Strategic Dialogue, which will reaffirm the countries’ commitment to further enhancement of bilateral relations and cooperation. North Macedonia is the first country in the Western Balkans to open a Strategic Dialogue with the United States, which represents an upgrade of the strategic partnership and raises bilateral relations at a higher level.