Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, as part of his working visit to Belgium, met Thursday with his host Sophie Wilmès, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions.

The two ministers discussed the European integration process of North Macedonia and the prospect for the holding of the first intergovernmental conference in line with the decision of the Council of the EU regarding the opening of negotiations, the Foreign Ministry (MFA) said.

According to Osmani, it is a joint duty to maintain the European credibility in the Western Balkans, because the entire continent needs a stable, prosperous and European region. “We count the most on the principled support of member states, we count on a fair approach, and we count on the merit-based system. I believe today we reaffirmed these principled positions with Belgium too,” the Minister stated.

Discussing bilateral relations, the ministers concluded that there is stable and continuous progress.

Osmani and Wilmès also opened several topical issues in the field of international and regional politics and discussed the epidemiological situation in the both countries and the efforts they make to respond to the COVID-19-caused health crisis.

In Brussels, FM Osmani is also scheduled to meet Chamber of Representatives President Eliane Tillieux and Senate President Stephanie D’Hose.

Later in the day, he will visit the NATO HQ for a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.