Tánaiste welcomes H. E. Bujar Osmani, Foreign Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, on visit to Ireland

Speaking after his meeting with the Foreign Minister, the Tánaiste said:

"I was pleased to welcome Foreign Minister Osmani on his first visit to Ireland since assuming office in 2020. As a beneficiary of the EU’s first enlargement fifty years ago, Ireland has always been a strong supporter of enlargement. In that context, we fully endorse the European perspective of North Macedonia, as well as all of the Western Balkan states.

"Today’s meeting provided a timely opportunity to take stock of the progress North Macedonia has made towards accession, and some of the challenging work still to be done. Foreign Minister Osmani’s sterling work as Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE evidences North Macedonia’s commitment to European security and to multilateral cooperation, values which we in Ireland whole-heartedly share."

Earlier, Foreign Minister Osmani briefed a public session of the Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs and met with Minister of State for European Union Affairs, Peter Burke, where discussions covered North Macedonia’s EU perspective, their role as OSCE Chairman-in-Office, and ways to strengthen our bilateral relationship.