On 11 November 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, who was in Latvia on a working visit. The Ministers discussed the bilateral relations between Latvia and North Macedonia, the integration of North Macedonia and the Western Balkans region into the European Union, and the war waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
Edgars Rinkēvičs commended the excellent relations with North Macedonia and thanked North Macedonia for joining the NATO enhanced Forward Presence battle group in Latvia. North Macedonia is a valuable NATO ally in the Western Balkans region, and its participation in the battle group stationed in Ādaži is an important contribution to the security of the Baltic region.
Referring to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs welcomed North Macedonia’s joining all EU sanctions on Russia and provision of assistance to Ukraine. Edgars Rinkēvičs called on North Macedonia to support Ukraine’s initiative aimed at the establishment of a special international tribunal to investigate into, and prosecute crimes.
The officials exchanged views on current state of affairs in the Western Balkans region. Edgars Rinkēvičs congratulated North Macedonia on the launch of the EU accession negotiation process, and he expressed his hope in the country’s rapid advancement along the path of EU integration. Russia’s war in Ukraine has highlighted afresh the geopolitical and strategic significance of the EU’s enlargement process. Latvia stands up for a clear EU perspective for the Western Balkans countries and a credible EU enlargement policy pursuing an individualised and merit-based approach to each of the countries.
During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia setting out the commitment of the two countries to strengthening cooperation, including in the matters of EU integration. Latvia continues offering the Western Balkans countries its expertise and experience with integration into the EU in support of their path to the EU membership.
As part of his visit, the North Macedonian Foreign Minister, Bujar Osmani, met with the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Saeima (the Latvian Parliament) during its previous term and Member of the current 14th Saeima, Rihards Kols. Foreign Minister Osmani was also given a tour of the National Library of Latvia and the NATO military base in Ādaži.