Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani today at a press conference presented the M-CARD project, intended for persons who originate from the Republic of North Macedonia as a symbolic acknowledgement for their selfless engagement aimed at promoting the country abroad. The M-CARD is an acknowledgement and a recognition for eminent persons or individuals from the country who have shown exceptional success with their work and professionalism, and thus truly promoted North Macedonia abroad, Osmani emphasised. “As their motherland, we want to express our gratitude to them, I would say, in a symbolic manner – to pay them back, to compensate their role as promotors of the country, representing us as a country of successful and quality people”, he added. “During a longer past period, a large number of people have not only left the country, but they have achieved particular exceptional professional and social success where they are. They are successful doctors, scientists, businessmen, culture workers etc. that we want to attract to the country, strengthen their ties and create a potential for their closer involvement in our social flows”, Osmani emphasised. The idea is for such individuals to be included in a wider network that would be involved deeper in the social flows in the country. The whole process regarding the M-CARD will be coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The card will provide certain benefits such as free entrance at cultural events, museums and galleries, it would offer an advantage when applying for projects in the framework of programs for cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with individuals and associations abroad, facilitate regulating the stay in the country and support in the case of new businesses opening etc. The list of benefits is being expanded in cooperation with other Government departments. The detection of such persons is planned to be started by the diplomatic missions and consular posts of North Macedonia abroad, and the awarding will be realized in a strictly determined procedure conducted within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  

The “Road to Prespa Forum Dialogue” international panel was held today at the Parliamentarians’ Club in Skopje as an introductory event for the upcoming “Prespa Forum Dialogue” that will be held on 1-2 July this year in Ohrid and Oteshevo. The panel was hosted by Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani who took the opportunity to set out the aim and to present the concept and the fundamental idea behind the Prespa Forum Dialogue.   “In the core of the Prespa Forum Dialogue is the essence of the three Agreements for which North Macedonia is recognized as a unique example in the broader region. Those are the Ohrid Framework Agreement, the Treaty on Friendship with Bulgaria and the Agreement for Strategic Partnership with Greece, known as the Prespa Agreement. They contain strong political principles and values of universal importance: above all brave political steps to build long-term and stable compromises; mutual respect, political and diplomatic patience, and most of all the positive approach in building friendships between neighbours in the broadest sense of the word”, Osmani emphasised. The participants voiced support and underlined the importance of the initiative for establishing the Forum. With their fruitful discussions they provided new ideas and proposals that will be presented in a joint regional political document with recommendation regarding the political, economic and social influence of the regional and bilateral agreement in the Western Balkans at the upcoming Prespa Forum Dialogue Conference. In addition to the host – Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani – other participants in the event included Florian Bieber, SEE History and Politics Professor at the University of Graz; Ioannis Armakolas of ELIAMEP; Vesela Cherneva, Deputy Director of the ECFR and head of the European Council for Foreign Policy’s Sofia office; Edward Joseph, Professor at John Hopkins University in the US; Gerald Knaus of the European Stability Initiative in Berlin; Damir Marusic of the Atlantic Council, Ivan Krastev of the Cenre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia, Valeska Esch of the Aspen Institute Germany, Erwan Fouéré of the Centre for European Policy Studies. Furthermore, numerous representatives of state institutions, foreign embassies in the country and representatives of the non-governmental sector in the country were also in attendance. Prespa Forum Dialogue is an important project organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the auspices of the President of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia. It is an international conference with an impressive list of invited guests, many of which have already confirmed their attendance, including prime ministers, ministers from the region and EU member states, high representatives of the EU and the US, as well as representatives other international organizations. 

During his working visit to the Kingdom of Denmark, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani met with his counterpart, Foreign Minister JeppeKofod. The central topic of the meeting were the European perspectives and expectations of our country – implementation of the decision ofMarch last year, through adopting the negotiating framework and the holding of the first Intergovernmental conference. In that context, Minister Osmani welcomed Denmark’s commitment to maintaining the dynamics in the EU enlargement process in accordance with the established criteria and voiced gratitude for their principled support in the Euro-Atlantic and European ambition of the Republic of North Macedonia. Kofod welcomed the results accomplished by our Government in order to strengthen democracy and the rule of law, whereupon he emphasised the necessity of continued and committed implementation of European standards and reform goals. He said that Denmark remains a strong supporter of the European integration perspectives of the Republic of North Macedonia with faith that formal negotiations for EU accession will start soon. “The focus on reforms and progress in the key areas, the fulfilment of well-known “Copenhagen criteria“, which have not been changed under the new Methodology, as well as deepening of good-neighbourly relations remain our priority in the period ahead as well. North Macedonia has delivered across all fields and deserves valorization for the progress achieved. The formal start of negotiations is only a symbolic start of the long course o transformation, but is an important signal and necessary encouragement for the whole region that will strengthen the credibility of the process of European integration. This is important for everyone – especially us – the countries in the region, because the European idea is what unites us around modern values”, Osmani emphasised. The interlocutors at the meeting discussed the recently initiated process of strategic reflection in EU member states and at EU level within the Conference on the Future of Europe, whereupon Osmani told Kofod that we are ready, in accordance with our status as candidate country, to provide our modest contribution that will create a positive impetus for promoting the overall European agenda. In continuation, the two ministers exchanged opinions, proposals and suggestions for further promotion and deepening of bilateral cooperation with new content in all fields of mutual interest, placing special emphasis on the interest and the need for strengthening economic cooperation, through identifying the possible interest of investors and intensification of trade. Minister Osmani’s Denmark agenda includes the meeting with Jean Ellermann-Kingombe, Under-Secretary of State in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Frederiksen,with topics regarding the European file of the country are expected to dominate the discussion again.

During his visit to Copenhagen, Osmani will meet a number of our citizens, as well as representatives of several associations of the diaspora of the Republic of North Macedonia in Denmark.