North Macedonia and Kosovo have excellent bilateral relations and good trade exchange, while a joint session of the countries’ governments would be an additional impulse in the further development and intensification of relations, agreed Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Kosovo counterpart Avdullah Hoti in Skopje on Friday.
Zaev and Hoti, who is paying an official visit to North Macedonia, expressed hope that a joint government session would take place soon, resulting in the signing of bilateral agreements.
“Our geographic proximity will be made even closer with the construction of motorway Skopje-Kosovo border. This motorway is of exceptional significance for both countries but also for the entire region. Another proof of our sincere commitment to free flow of people and goods is the opening of border crossing Belanovce-Stancic,” PM Zaev said during a joint press conference.
Kosovo is one of North Macedonia’s most important trading partners, with duty-free exchange conducted in accordance with the CEFTA rules and the bilateral economic cooperation agreement.
“North Macedonia is among the top five countries that Kosovo is trading with. Namely, even in such extraordinary circumstances imposed by COVID-19, total trade exchange by August is close to EUR 170 million,” said Zaev.
He also welcomed the agreement on economic normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations signed in Washington, saying the Macedonian government supports a mutually acceptable solution that guarantees and strengthens peace and security in the region.
“They say that one cannot choose the neighbor but the neighbor is the first to help. Therefore, we expect Kosovo to get involved in the enhanced regional cooperation led by North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania, regardless of the open political issues. I will meet Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama next Friday, with one of the topics of discussion being to send a joint invitation, in the interest of free movement of goods, services, people and capital in the Western Balkans, which would lead to faster integration and alignment with the EU. This joint engagement will represent an added value to our European perspectives and complement the other existing initiatives – the Berlin Process and the Regional Cooperation Council,” noted Zaev.
PM Hoti congratulated the government of North Macedonia for the remarkable results it has achieved, highlighting the Prespa Agreement.
“I congratulate you on the steps made towards European integration and the regional initiatives which we expect to join, so that relations in the region are fully normalized. You have gone through a long 30-year-long road as a country and the entire region has learned a lot from the reforms you have made, especially in the field of economy,” said Hoti.
He also saluted the activities towards the construction of the motorway to the Blace border crossing.
“Moreover, it would be good if you considered the possibility for a feasibility study on motorway Tetovo-Prizren. Business chambers are in close coordination with the economy and work on intensification of the cooperation, but also in identifying the obstacles that could prevent further enhancement of economic ties,” underlined Hoti.
