Skopje, 2 June 2022 (MIA) — Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani in an official visit to Washington DC met with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who welcomed the holding of a Strategic Dialogue between North Macedonia and the United States as a step forward in bilateral relations and the strategic partnership between the two countries, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “It is a special honor for us that North Macedonia is the first country of the Western Balkans to hold a Strategic Dialogue with the United States, an important process deepening our strategic partnership and framing our bilateral cooperation in more specific terms. “This step in bilateral relations is another confirmation of the strong friendship and mutual interest in strengthening the alliance between the two countries,” FM Osmani is cited as saying in the press release. Meeting participants talked about the global security situation and condemned the Russian military invasion of Ukraine while expressing strong support and solidarity for Ukraine. They also agreed that the current situation required new dynamics in the European integration of the Western Balkan countries, which would confirm the credibility of the EU and encourage regional reconciliation and overcoming differences between the countries. “The EU enlargement process is a security issue. The European perspectives of the Western Balkan countries, and the credibility of this process, are essential for regional and European stability. "We are grateful for the strong American support for North Macedonia’s start of EU negotiations as soon as possible, currently the best way to preserve the credibility of these processes," Osmani said. At the meeting with Blinken, Osmani said the partnership between North Macedonia and the United States, especially in NATO, and now also strengthened by the Strategic Dialogue, was one of the most important pillars of North Macedonia’s long-term stability and democratic development. mr/