Bumci visits Macedonia

TIRANA, April 30 – Following a visit to Kosovo, new Foreign Minster Aldo Bumci, made his second visit abroad to neighbouring Macedonia.
Bumci met with his Macedonian counterpart Nikola Poposki and President Gjeorge Ivanov, Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanovski and Deputy Prime Minister for European
Integration Issues Fatmir Besimi.
He also met with leaders of ethnic Albanian political parties in Macedonia.
Bilateral ties, integration processes of both countries and the regional developments were the main focus of the talks.
Albania is a NATO member, which Macedonia also aims to achieve. While Macedonia has EU’s candidate status, Albania has yet to reach it. Both countries have pledged to assist each other in the integration processes. Bumci considered bilateral ties as “solid and dynamic, of good friendship and reciprocal cooperation.”
Strengthening and increasing economic cooperation remains of primary importance for Tirana and Skopje. Ethnic Albanians make up almost a third of Macedonia’s population. The Macedonian president has planned an official visit to Tirana in autumn.