Minister Grlić Radman holds talks with North Macedonian Foreign Minister Osmani

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Tuesday met with the Foreign Minister of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, who was on an official visit to Croatia

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Tuesday met with the Foreign Minister of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, who was on an official visit to Croatia.

The two officials underscored the traditionally friendly relations between their countries, with the talks focusing on strengthening the bilateral cooperation as well as on the support for North Macedonia’s European journey and the transfer of Croatia’s experiences.

Grlić Radman welcomed the swift formation of the North Macedonian Government following the parliamentary elections, which had eliminated any holdups in further implementation of the EU agenda. “Croatia highly appreciates North Macedonia’s reform efforts and political courage, which have resulted in the country’s admission to NATO and getting the green light to open accession talks with the EU, the latter of which we are particularly proud of as it happened during Croatia’s EU presidency,” Grlić Radman said. He added that Croatia would support the reaching of an agreement among the member states about the negotiating framework for North Macedonia and the holding of the Intergovernmental Conference by year’s end.

Osmani thanked Croatia for its crucial role in North Macedonia’s European integration process, notably during Croatia’s Council of the EU presidency. “Croatia is deeply ingrained in our European integration process. It all began in Croatia with the 2000 Zagreb Summit and ended in Croatia with the 2020 Summit,” the minister said, adding that he expected continued close cooperation in the further process of North Macedonia’s EU accession.

Grlić Radman underlined the importance of the two countries’ respective national minorities. “Croatia strongly supports the implementation of the conclusions of the fourth meeting of the Intergovernmental Mixed Committee for the Implementation of the National Minority Protection Agreement and the holding of its next meeting in North Macedonia by year’s end,” the minister said.

Grlić Radman and Osmani underscored willingness to renew and strengthen cooperation in other areas of mutual interest, such as health, culture, science, education, labour and environmental protection. “The increase in trade between Croatia and Macedonia in relation to the same period last year is encouraging. We want the excellent political relations to be accompanied by a stronger economic cooperation between our countries,” Grlić Radman concluded.

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