North Macedonia's Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani unintentionally mixed up Hollywood and diplomacy at a meeting with  EU ambassador to Skopje David Geer on July 1, referring to the diplomat as ‘Richard Gere’. 

Murtezani, a member of the ethnic Albanian Vlen coalition, is new to the post, having been appointed as minister in the government led by PM Hristijan Mickoski.

Following his meeting with Geer on July 1, Murtezani took to Facebook to explain his mistake, where he referred to the ambassador as Richard Gere, the renowned actor known for his roles in films such as "Pretty Woman" and "An Officer and a Gentleman”. 

"This is what happens when you're a fan of the famous actor Richard Gere," Murtezani admitted on his Facebook page, acknowledging his slip-up in front of the media.

Despite the mix-up, Geer took the gaffe in his stride, reportedly smiling at the unexpected moment during their diplomatic exchange.

During the meeting, Murtezani emphasised North Macedonia's steadfast commitment to the Euro-Atlantic agenda, citing the government's programme as evidence of its dedication. He highlighted the recent adoption of the Strategic Agenda 2024-2029, which prioritises EU enlargement and aligns closely with the European Union's overarching goals.

"The Strategic Agenda 2024-2029 underscores our readiness to embrace EU enlargement as a pivotal opportunity," Murtezani stated optimistically, pointing to the Hungarian presidency's supportive stance on enlargement as a source of encouragement.

North Macedonia has been an EU accession candidate since 2005, but has struggled to move closer to joining the bloc, held back by bilateral disputes with first Greece and more recently Bulgaria. The nationalist stance of the new government led by Mickoski has raised concerns in North Macedonia’s EU member neighbours.