Skopje, 3 June 2022 (MIA) — Defense Minister Slavjanka Petrovska on a working visit to the USA met early this morning at the White House with Amanda Sloat, Senior Director for Europe at the White House National Security Council; David Fabrycky, Director for NATO and European Affairs at the White House National Security Council; and Admir Muzurović, Director for the Balkans and Central Europe at the White House National Security Council. According to the Ministry of Defense in a press release, meeting participants discussed the overall security situation on the European continent. They agreed that the situation required unity, alliance and rapid and efficient integration. Minister Petrovska said the European integration process had become a security issue of the highest priority and welcomed the strong US support for the immediate start of North Macedonia’s membership negotiations with the EU. “Starting accession negotiations with the European Union, especially in today's security reality in Europe, is a matter of the highest priority. Europe and NATO need to remain united in their condemnation of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and strengthen their efforts to integrate countries that share the same values. “North Macedonia, considering the fact that it is fully in line with the European foreign and security policy, has shown it is a real partner and it sees its future in the Union,” Petrovska said. She noted that the country needed an immediate start of negotiations to ensure the security of the region as an important geopolitical part of Europe; to prevent the influence of third countries in the Western Balkans; and to preserve the credibility of the EU. According to the release, the meeting also focused on dealing with hybrid threats, including misinformation that could destabilize the region. Director Sloat, the release says, expressed strong and unwavering support for North Macedonia's European integration, which she said should not be postponed any longer. mr/