President of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, met this Monday with the US Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Gabriel Escobar, where they exchanged views on the general bilateral relations between the Republic of North Macedonia and the United States, as well as the situation in the region. 

At the meeting, Pendarovski, as reported by his office, said that both countries continuously promote productive political dialogue and expressed confidence that bilateral relations will continue to develop at an even stronger pace. 

Pendarovski also stressed the importance of strong and continued support from the United States in achieving the country's strategic goals, from the declaration of independence until today. 

Regarding the aspirations for membership in the European Union, President Pendarovski reaffirmed the expectations for the speedy start of membership negotiations, emphasizing that the unblocking of the integration process will have a positive impact on the stability and overall development of the region. In this context, President Pendarovski thanked the US administration and personally Assistant Secretary of State Escobar for their support in addressing the need for regional progress towards the EU. 

At the meeting, Pendarovski stressed the commitment of the Republic of North Macedonia, as the newest member of NATO, to contribute to collective security and the protection of the values ??of the Euro-Atlantic community. 

Pendarovski also thanked for the invitation to participate in the virtual Summit for Democracy, organized by US President Joe Biden, which will be held on December 9 and 10, 2021.