Viktor Orbán Travels to North Macedonia for Joint Government Summit

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (L) with his North Macedonian counterpart Hristijan Mickoski

On Thursday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán traveled to North Macedonia, where he will hold talks with various officials and participate in a government summit during his two-day official visit.

During his visit, he will also hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Parliamentary Speaker Afrim Gashi, and Metropolitan Timothy of the Diocese of Debar and Kičevo, Bertalan Havasi, Deputy State Secretary in charge of the Prime Minister’s Press Office, told the press.

The Hungarian-North Macedonian government summit starts today, with the Hungarian delegation led by Viktor Orbán.

The two prime ministers laid a wreath at the Statues of Saints Cyril and Methodius, and then visited Ohrid’s Old Town, where they payed a visit to the Church of Holy Mary Peryvleptos and the Monastery of Saint Naum.

„I had a fruitful and friendly meeting with my Hungarian colleague Viktor Orbán. History testifies to our common pursuit of peace, prosperity and cooperation,” the North Macedonian Prime Minister wrote in a Facebook post on Friday morning.

“Hungary was one of our first partners to recognize the Macedonian aspirations for independence and sovereignty,” he added. „For years, political and economic ties between our states have deepened, and today’s meetings only reaffirm our strategic alliance.

Hungary is not only our partner on the European stage, but also an example of how a country can successfully balance national sovereignty with global integration,”

wrote Hristijan Mickoski.

North Macedonia held parliamentary elections in May and a new government was formed at the end of June, with the current government summit marking the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations. Prime Minister Mickoski is counting on Hungary’s support in promoting his country’s EU integration, as a Hungarian expert is also assisting North Macedonia’s preparations for accession. The official visit is timely as this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Bertalan Havasi said.

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