Ohrid, 16 June 2022 (MIA) – Two-day international conference Prespa Forum Dialogue (PFD) themed “Shaping Western Balkans Future in the Contemporary European Security Architecture”, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, begins in Ohrid on Thursday. The forum will tackle the most pressing security, political and economic issues that Europe and the Western Balkans are facing nowadays, with a focus on the implications of the war in Ukraine on the international political, security and economic circumstances in Europe and beyond. Heads of state and government, foreign ministers and international experts will take part at several sessions and panels. Participants include European Council President Charles Michel, Presidents of Montenegro, Kosovo, Slovenia and Croatia, Milo Djukanovic, Vjosa Osmani, Borut Pahor and Zoran Milanovic respectively, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, United States Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Gabriel Escobar, European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi, special representatives for the Western Balkans, Foreign Ministers of Austria, Poland, Greece, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Vatican, ministers of European affairs, finance, economy, environment, as well as representatives of international and regional NGOs. President Stevo Pendarovski will deliver the opening remarks, while Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski will also take part. PFD is a platform created by the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia to enable countries, leaders, organizations, and citizens to build long-term relationships and strengthen partnerships. Drawing from the results and experiences that contributed North Macedonia to develop into a modern, democratic and multi-ethnic state founded on European values, the PFD aims to inspire and promote good-neighborly relations and cooperation. It is envisioned as a place for exchanging views and ideas on possible solutions to outstanding bilateral issues, thus assisting governments, institutions and the civil society, including the youth, in the consistent implementation of the spirit and letter of the signed bilateral and regional agreements.