Today, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia responsible for European Affairs, Dr. Fatmir Besimi, had individual meetings with representatives of international institutions, Ms. Deirdre Boyd, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Macedonia, and the new Director of the World Bank Office in Macedonia, Ms. Tatiana Proskoruiakova.

During the meeting between the Deputy Prime Minister Besimi and Ms. Boyd, the readiness for continuation and extension of the excellent cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Macedonia and UNDP was emphasised.

In that context, the Deputy Prime Minister Besimi emphasised that the country is now at a crucial stage on its way towards its strategic goals - the EU and NATO membership, and the support of UNDP in this process, especially the support in the High Level Accession Dialogue, is of a great importance for the Republic of Macedonia.

At the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister Besimi emphasised the importance of the support that UNDP provides to the Secretariat for European Affairs through the current project "Capacity Building for Aid Coordination" which supports the Government in aid coordination and the establishment of a programme based approach which is now a basis for programming the new EU - IPA perspective for the period 2014-2020. Also, they discussed about new opportunities for cooperation.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Macedonia, Ms. Boyd, emphasised that the focus of UNDP is in its contribution and supplement of the national efforts to meet national priorities and Action Plan for EU integration, especially in the areas under the competences of the UN.

During the meeting with the Director of the World Bank Office in Macedonia, Ms. Tatiana Proskoruiakova, the importance for the Republic of Macedonia in this period to make progress in the EU integration process was emphasised and they agreed about the preparatory meetings between the Secretariat for European Affairs and World Bank Office in Skopje in order to define the areas of cooperation in progress with the European agenda.

At the end, the Deputy Prime Minister Besimi expressed his gratitude for the complements for the new position and wished Mrs. Proskoruiakova further success in her position of Director of the World Bank Office in Macedonia, and assured that he will make his personal contribution to continue the cooperation between the Secretariat for European Affairs and the World Bank.