Berse: Macedonia has an important role for stability and democratic sustainability in the region and Europe

Berse: Macedonia has an important role for stability and democratic sustainability in the region and Europe

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, during his official visit to the Republic of North Macedonia, after yesterday’s meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timço Mucunski, expressed satisfaction with the cooperation so far with the country and emphasized the significant progress that the country has achieved in recent decades, Portalb.mk reports.

In his speech, the Secretary-General indicated that he was “really impressed” by North Macedonia’s achievements, emphasizing that the Council of Europe has always been a partner and supporter of the country in strengthening democracy.

He emphasized the important role of the Republic of North Macedonia in building democratic stability and sustainability in the region and Europe, especially in the face of current geopolitical and security challenges.

“In such geopolitical circumstances, trust in democratic institutions is absolutely essential, not only for member states, but also for the stability of Europe as a whole,” Berset emphasized, adding that security and stability are only possible through strong and functional institutions.

The Secretary General also welcomed cooperation with North Macedonia in several areas, including artificial intelligence, support for Ukraine and the promotion of minority rights, and particularly welcomed the swift adoption of the Action Plan on Minorities. At the same time, Berset assessed that North Macedonia’s upcoming chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe represents an additional confirmation of the country’s role and importance within the European family.

Otherwise, with the presence of Secretary Berset, North Macedonia signed today the Council of Europe Convention on Artificial IntelligenceThe Convention, adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in May 2024, is the first binding international instrument setting out principles and standards for the safe, ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence.