Skopje, 17 March 2023 (MIA) - Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi met Friday with European Union Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, Miroslav Lajčák, expressing satisfaction that discussions within the Dialogue will be held in Ohrid on Saturday.  

Xhaferi said for him that symbolizes a certain recognition of the country's international position, the Parliament said in a press release. 

The Republic of North Macedonia, Xhaferi stressed, has good and friendly relations with both countries and as a neighboring country, it gives great support to the efforts of the international community in achieving success in order to finally find a mutually acceptable solution for both sides. In that context, adds the press release, the Speaker mentioned North Macedonia's successful international path of within the framework of Euro-Atlantic integration, first of all, through the example of successful resolution of the difficult and open dispute with the Republic of Greece and the signing of the Friendship Treaty with the Republic of Bulgaria.

Xhaferi pointed out the expectations are for the constitutional amendments to be made and the opening of EU chapters to finally begin. 

The EU Special Representative, Miroslav Lajčák, thanked for the meeting with the Parliament Speaker and expressed satisfaction to be back in the Republic of North Macedonia, which to him is a country where he has many friends and a country that was the first in the region to sign the EU Stabilization and Association Agreement.  

He agreed with Speaker Xhaferi that Saturday's discussions in Ohrid represent a beautiful symbolism for a country that is hosting the meeting and is a factor of stability in the region with the results it has shown so far internationally.

In addition, Lajčák pointed out that this is the first meeting within the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue that takes place outside Brussels, and from that point of view, this is a recognition for the country. He briefed Speaker Xhaferi on current developments in the negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo, reads the press release, and expressed hope that tomorrow will bring significant progress to this process. 

"The EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, Miroslav Lajčák, among other things expressed interest in the issues regarding our start of negotiations with the EU and expressed his personal belief that the political actors in our country will be aware of the momentum and readiness of the EU to start the negotiations after completing obligations in terms of making the constitutional amendments," said the Parliament.

Speaker Xhaferi wished Lajčák a successful meeting in Ohrid on Saturday, the press release reads.