Kozarev meets with North Macedonian ambassador

BELGRADE - Secretary General at the Serbian MFA Dusan Kozarev met with North Macedonian Ambassador to Belgrade Nikola Tupanceski on Friday to discuss stepping up economic and cultural cooperation, as well as strengthening ties in the infrastructure and energy sectors.

"Serbia remains firmly committed to the spirit and the objectives of the Open Balkan initiative - it represents a kind of a 'mini Schengen' on the path to full-fledged accession to the Schengen area," Kozarev said.

The parties expressed mutual readiness to further advance the traditional friendship and noted that the recent opening of a North Macedonian consulate in Pancevo, northern Serbia, was an important element of strengthening overall ties, the MFA said in a statement.

EU integration was also an important topic of the meeting.

Kozarev and Tupanceski said their countries supported each other on the EU path and were ready for further experience-sharing and deeper cooperation in that area.