Skopje, 17 June 2022 (MIA) – Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani hosted on Friday as part of the Prespa Forum Dialogue a working breakfast meeting in the format B6 with participation of the U.S., EU, UK, Germany and Austria Special Representatives for the Western Balkans, including United States Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Gabriel Escobar, Miroslav Lajčák, Sir Stuart Peach, Manuel Sarrazin, and Johannes Eigner. “Western Balkan countries are still struggling to find their place among the developed Western democracies, resilient to global challenges. We still lack answers to some of the most pressing open issues facing the region, in order to stimulate substantial debates on the economic recovery and prosperity of the Western Balkans,” Osmani stressed. In this context, B6 is an authentic initiative capable of providing swift direct communication on all issues affecting the countries in the region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release. “Faced with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, regional cooperation is becoming even more important, particularly in terms of demonstrating common political leadership and European unity. Enhaced regional cooperation and unity should be important elements of a joint resolute approach to the EU, related to future Union membership,” reads the press release. Such a meeting, the press release adds, is particularly important in strengthening regional cooperation, especially since this is the first time that key representatives for the Western Balkans sit together at the same table. “The B6 initiative was launched as part of last year’s Prespa Forum Dialogue in the format of foreign ministers, in order to establish direct end efficient communication on issues of regional interest. Strong U.S. support demonstrated as part of the Strategic Dialogue with the United States, which was recently held in Washington, is particularly significant. Today’s working breakfast is the third meeting organized within the B6 format,” the press release reads.