There will be an international investigation regarding the 2015 two-day shootout known as the Kumanovo case, announced Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, at a joint press conference with Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj.

“This is a sensitive issue… We agreed that there will be an international investigation so that the citizens can get true answers. This issue should not be an obstacle [in the relations] between our two countries,” said Prime Minister Zaev at the press conference.

Eight police officers died in the armed confrontation, as well as 10 members of an armed group, some of them from Kosovo. In November, seven of the 37 Albanian defendants accused of involvement were given life sentences.  After the verdicts were announced, Prime Minister Haradinaj’s government said it would give 219,000 euros to cover the expenses of family members of those killed or convicted of involvement.

At the press conference, Prime Minister Zaev further said that the trade exchange between the two countries has reached 160 million euros, and added that it should surpass 200 million euros. He said that Macedonia could import coal from Kosovo in order to increase its industrial capacities. According to Zaev, this would balance out the trade relation between the two countries.

Haradinaj said that “life, fate, and future prospects connect us to Macedonia.” To this, Zaev added that Macedonia and Kosovo are “friendly countries,” and that Macedonia will support Kosovo’s membership bid to UNESCO.

The Macedonian Prime Minister invited Haradinaj for a visit to Macedonia, and announced a joint meeting of the governments to be held next year.