News
11/4/2021 02:30
The working meeting within “Open Balkans” which took place yesterday and continued today in Belgrade was rounded off with the trilateral meeting Dimitrov – Vucic – Rama, and a subsequent press conference at which the specific agreed steps for the future realisation of the initiative were presented.
The Deputy Prime Minister Dimitrov emphasised that the regional cooperation isn’t an alternative to European integration; on the contrary, this initiative is an original contribution by the countries in the region towards a European future and North Macedonia shall firmly remain committed to this strategic goal.
Dimitrov: “Regional cooperation is a wise choice; regional cooperation is the right choice and regional cooperation is a European choice. The only sustainable and long-term vision for a stable, victorious Balkans is the vision where borders are not as important, even to the degree where they become insignificant and therefore the instigation of regional cooperation through the “Open Balkans” initiative is a huge step towards achieving that vision. The significance placed by the Government of North Macedonia on regional cooperation and this initiative is I think highlighted in the fact that I am here today in Belgrade in circumstances when there is a complicated situation on the Macedonian political scene, but this cause is far too important and we don’t have the luxury to be absent today at this session of this initiative between these three countries”
Dimitrov also focused on the concrete conclusions derived from the working meeting and leadership meetings, and also from the meetings with representatives of the companies:
“From the perspective of the citizens of the three countries, as well as of the entire Balkan region, it will be considered as a big plus if we eliminate trade barriers and help the region become more attractive for foreign investment. From the perspective of EU member states, the more successful our cooperation is, the more convincing we will be that we are a region that will not bring problems, but solutions. We have shown that we have the political will, I think there are quite obvious conditions for that will to become legislation where necessary or translate into international agreements. At this meeting, we addressed what was missing, which is to strengthen implementation. At the next meeting scheduled to take place in Tirana towards the end of the year, our commitment is to be able to publish several common victories, including the solution regarding implementation, and the more common victories we deliver, the more attractive this initiative will become for other countries in our region.”
He also stated that the regional cooperation is more likely to succeed if it really is regional, in an inclusive sense: “I think it is very important for this initiative to remain open for all, and I think the more determine we remain to march forward, the more attractive we become for other countries and any remaining reservations will be eliminated” – concluded Mr. Dimitrov.
A panel discussion “Digital Transformation as a helping hand for regional integration” was organised within the working meeting and in partnership with the Atlantic Council, where the importance of digitalisation to further the regional development was highlighted, using the “Open Balkans” platform.
The next working meeting within the “Open Balkans” initiative is scheduled to take place towards the end of the year in Tirana and at the meeting, the realisation of the commitments and obligations agreed during these last two days in Belgrade will be reviewed.