Hamáček: Czech Republic supports North Macedonia’s NATO and EU membership


North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev held a meeting Wednesday in Skopje with a delegation led by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Government Jan Hamáček, focusing on longstanding bilateral relations and support to North Macedonia and its policies.

PM Zoran Zaev pointed out that North Macedonia’s Government remains committed to the Euro-Atlantic reform processes, developing the concept of “one society for all”, the Macedonian model of good neighborly relations, as well as the contribution to regional cooperation in Western Balkans countries, said the Government in a press release.

In July 2019, the Czech Republic is to take charge of the presidency of the Visegrad Group of EU member states of the Central European region. This, according to the press release, would lead to further support for opening the EU accession chapter of North Macedonia. In addition, the Czech Parliament has confirmed it would hold a ratification vote on the NATO Accession Protocol in the coming months.

RNM PM Zaev highlighted the strong commitment of the two countries to maintain and develop friendly political dialogue especially over issues concerning the EU, such as the migrant crisis, as well as to enhance economic cooperation.

Czech Deputy PM Hamáček said the cooperation between the security forces of the two countries was vital, adding that the Czech Republic remained fully open to this cooperation in the future.

Deputy PM Hamáček noted that North Macedonia’s contribution to areas of interest to the EU, as well as its reform progress are a confirmation that the EU should give the green light for opening the accession negotiations.