The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia and BiH, Bujar Osmani and Bisera Turković, assessed today in Skopje that there is no stable Western Balkans until all six countries of the region are on the irreversible path to the European Union and NATO.
"I think it's time for the countries and peoples in the Western Balkans to reconcile, to accept the reality we are in and to extend the path to membership in the EU and NATO, for all six countries, because that is the only alternative for a stable and prosperous region," he said. is Osmani at a joint press conference with Turković.
He said this when he was asked to comment on Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's statement at the World Economic Forum in Davos that it is a political club whose interest is only personal and makes political demands related to national identity and territorial demands.
"Unfortunately, there are still politicians everywhere in the region who are still riding the wave, on topics from the past, topics from history, on hate speech. I am not alluding to your question now. However, in general," said Osmani.
The head of diplomacy of North Macedonia said that the region needs a new look and cited as an example the Franco-German conflict, which, he said, was one of the fiercest conflicts with consequences for both nations, but today France and Germany are great friends and partners in EU.
"I think this is what we here in the region should do. To rise above daily, party and nationalist tendencies, to reconcile, to extend a hand and to move forward, all six countries, the peoples of all six countries, for the better , a stable and safe perspective. Only the EU and NATO offer us that," said Osmani.
He pointed out that "Northern Macedonia strongly supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of BiH, as well as the Euro-Atlantic perspective of BiH, condemning all secessionist tendencies in BiH".
Osmani congratulated the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina on obtaining candidate status and said that North Macedonia offers to share its experience with that country for the further course of implementing reforms and achieving the criteria for opening negotiations for membership.
North Macedonia, he added, strongly supports the Euro-Atlantic integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"As the last member of NATO, we can help in this part by sharing experiences and reform activities, and we encourage Bosnia and Herzegovina to continue on this path, since there is no alternative for a stable and prosperous region, but only for all the countries of the region to start on the road to the EU and NATO," he said. Ottomans.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bisera Turković said that North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are victims of regional developments that affect their rapid progress towards the EU.
She pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina wants regional cooperation within the framework of the Berlin process with the aim that our connection accelerates the approximation of the entire region to the EU. "I don't think there is any need to duplicate what we do excellently and that gives results," said Turković.
"For us, Northern Macedonia is an important international partner, a member of NATO, from which we expect and have support for our progress towards full membership. There is no stable Balkans until all the countries of the region are on the irreversible path to the EU and without a solid NATO umbrella," said Bisera. Turkovic.
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