Skopje, 7 November 2022 (MIA) - Active cooperation between the Assembly of North Macedonia and the Knesset of the State of Israel is taking place smoothly and at the level of cooperation groups, which shows the continuous interest in maintaining and fostering close relations, agreed Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi and Jerusalem-based Israel Ambassador to North Macedonia, Simona Frankel, in Skopje on Monday. Speaker Xhaferi welcomed Ambassador Frankel's active engagement and maintaining regular communication with the highest state institutions in the country, and expressed hope that she will continue even after the recently conducted elections in Israel and the constitution of the new Knesset. Interlocutors discussed the war in Ukraine, the negative consequences for Europe and the world, the crisis situation in terms of migration, energy, and food shortages, while Xhaferi emphasized the assistance that North Macedonia provides to Ukraine as a sign of solidarity with its people. On the political level, the Assembly was among the first parliaments from NATO member states to adopt a Declaration condemning the violation of the territorial sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine, the Parliament said in a press release. Xhaferi also briefed Frankel on the recently adopted amendments to the Law on Associations and Foundations, which were unanimously adopted by both the ruling and opposition MPs without a single vote against. The amendments prohibit the use of names of fascists or supporters of fascism in organizations that should originally work for the cultural unification between states. Ambassador Frankel said that Israel has also joined the humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people, and the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs intended for international cooperation has been entirely diverted to these needs. She welcomed the adoption of the legal amendments, for which they have been carefully following the developments and are not at all surprised by the corresponding decision of the Assembly of North Macedonia. Interlocutors also discussed the current state of the North Macedonia's European integration plan, the opening of the first intergovernmental conference and the screening, with Ambassador Frankel reaffirming Israel's unconditional support for the country's accession. The meeting also tackled the further strengthening of economic relations, cooperation in the high-tech field, military-defense sector, telecommunications and tourism, reads the press release. dk/ik/