Prime Minister, Zoran Zaev met Friday with the newly appointed US Ambassador to Macedonia, Kate Byrnes. The government’s press service informed that the two interlocutors agreed that Macedonia remains a stable strategic partner of the United States, committed to the joint priorities for security, freedom and democratic prosperity of the region and joint efforts in the fight against terrorism and other threats to world peace.

Prime Minister Zaev welcomed Ambassador Byrnes to North Macedonia and expressed gratitude for the excellent work of the previous US ambassador Jess Baily and the Deputy Head of Mission Mikaela Schweitzer Bloom, reads the government’s statement.

Prime Minister Zaev, as a long-term interest of the country, highlighted the further enhancement of bilateral political and economic co-operation with the United States, as well as the commitment of the reform EU agenda to achieving concrete results in the area of the rule of law, anti-corruption, security reforms and public administration reforms.

At the meeting, it was expressed readiness to accept the obligations arising from full NATO membership by the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020, as it is said, the increase in GDP by 0.2 percent annually to two percent by 2024, modernization of military capabilities and increased participation in joint missions. Ambassador Byrnes said at the meeting that the United States is looking forward to welcoming North Macedonia as the 30th NATO member in the coming months, adding that it will invest its capacities and experience so far to continue the successful economic and political cooperation between the United States and the Republic of North Macedonia, reads the statement.