Skopje, 13 July 2023 (MIA) — President Stevo Pendarovski met Thursday with the Slavkov trilateral format representatives Foreign Minister of Austria Alexander Schallenberg, Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic Jan Lipavsky, and Foreign Minister of Slovakia Miroslav Wlachovský.

According to an official press release, they discussed the country's European Union membership bid, the latest developments in the Western Balkans as well as the situation in the wider region, in light of Russia'a war against Ukraine.

President Pendarovski thanked the Slavkov format representatives on their countries' unwavering support on North Macedonia's EU path. They exchanged opinions on the ongoing bilateral screening with the EU as well as on the need for adopting the constitutional amendments arising from the country's negotiating framework with the EU, the release says.

While discussing regional developments, Pendarovski highlighted that the country's European perspective was one of the key prerequisites for the overall stability, security, and democratic development of the region.

He also said the EU needed to maintain its focus on the region, noting that in times of serious security challenges on European soil it was more important than ever to view enlargement not only as a technical procedure but also as an important geopolitical tool for the EU, the release adds. mr/