Skopje, 30 June 2022 (MIA) - President Stevo Pendarovski at the sidelines of the Madrid NATO Summit had a brief meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. President Pendarovski underlined the importance of U.S. support to the Macedonian European aspirations as well as the assistance in concrete areas, including improving democracy, rule of law and the fight against corruption, his office said. The excellent bilateral ties between the United States and North Macedonia were reaffirmed during the meeting and it was concluded that the Strategic Dialogue, launched in early June, is considered a key step in the development of the countries' relations and concrete implementation of the Strategic Partnership. As regards the security in the European continent and the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine to the stability in the European continent, President Pendarovski said North Macedonia is prepared to share the challenges being a full-fledged NATO member state. Sweden and Finland joining NATO will contribute to strengthening the security of Europe and NATO as a whole, he stressed.