SKOPJE – Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, with Albanian Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhaçka, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo, Kreshnik Ahmeti, and foreign policy advisor to the Montenegrin Prime Minister, Đorđe Radulović on Wednesday launched the new platform “QUAD Western Balkans – 100% alignment with the EU Common Foreign Security Policy (CFSP)”.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the objective of the meeting was the complete alignment of the four QUAD group countries with the EU foreign and security policy in light of the new geopolitical reality, threats hybrids, the energy and economic crisis. consequences caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“After the Russian aggression against Ukraine, alignment with the CFSP, but also, beyond, with the positions and values of the democratic world, has become one of the most important priorities of the candidate countries for the CFSP. “EU membership, but also a clear message for who these countries belong to,” Minister Osmani emphasized at the meeting, MIA.mk reported.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his satisfaction with the creation of the informal QUAD forum. Each of these countries, he said, has demonstrated that it is a reliable partner of NATO and the EU, by aligning itself with EU and US sanctions, but also by providing concrete humanitarian and technical assistance to Ukraine.
????Tdy in #Skopje we launched #WB QUAD ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? 100% ???????? #CFSP alignment
???? Platform for closer cooperation. among the countries that fully respect the #EU CFSP, but also more broadly to democratic values and principles @xhacka_olta @gervallaschwarz @Kreshnik_A @MFA_MNE pic.twitter.com/uHiKeinr8E
– Bujar Osmani (@Bujar_O) March 29, 2023
Osmani informed the meeting participants of the upcoming reforms, indicating that there will be no deviation from the EU path for North Macedonia, a country known for its recognized multi-ethnic democracy and cohesion. by the decision to entrust him with hosting. the recently held talks between Kosovo and Serbia in Ohrid.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the participants noted that the common strategic goal of all countries that have managed to fully align with the EU is full integration within the Union. In this context, and in connection with current regional and international development, the process of implementing EU policies, regulations and standards represents a major national interest.