Skopje, disputes about the Open Balkans return

2024-11-24 13:11:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The participation of the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, in the International Wine, Brandy and Tourism Fair in Serbia, has brought back the controversy and disagreements about the "Open Balkans" initiative.

From the opposition Albanian Democratic Union for Integration (BDI) party, through a media conference on Saturday, they criticized Prime Minister Mickoski and the Albanian coalition "VLEN", part of the Macedonian Government, for contradictory positions regarding this initiative.

"The Besa movement (part of the VLEN coalition) at that time accused the Government of North Macedonia of being a participant in the Open Balkans project, which, according to Besa, is a Serbian-Russian project... The presidential candidate from the VLEN coalition, Arben Taravari, on On April 2, he stated that for almost three years he has emphasized that (North) Macedonia should withdraw from the Open Balkans as it is not a good initiative...", said the deputy of DUI, Arbana Pasholli.

Prime Minister Mickoski, who is staying in Belgrade since Friday, described this event as an opportunity to strengthen economic ties and cooperation between the countries involved in the initiative.

"The regional initiative creates opportunities that connect our region to the world, and this very platform is an example of how tradition and innovation can go hand in hand."

"The "Wine Vision by Open Balkan" fair is not only a place of exhibition and tasting," Mickoski said on Friday, adding that it is "also a forum for discussion, education and cooperation that will bring long-term benefits."

"I am sure that the joint success that we will share here will only be the beginning of even greater achievements in the future", added Prime Minister Mickoski.

Members of the "Open Balkans" initiative are North Macedonia, Serbia, and Albania. For the head of the Macedonian executive, this is the first participation in an "Open Balkans" event, since taking the mandate as prime minister from the May elections of this year.

Mickoski's visit to Belgrade included meetings with Serbian President Aleksandar Vu?i? and Prime Minister Miloš Vu?evi?.

"I am grateful for the fact that North Macedonia is one of the key partners in the Open Balkans initiative, which became a symbol of the strong cooperation and connection of the Western Balkans," says the official Instagram profile of the Serbian president, Aleksandar Vu?i?.

Earlier, Mickoski had stated that the initiative has many shortcomings, and as it is, "it is not complete".

Mejhiti: "The Open Balkans" towards the end

On this topic, the first deputy prime minister, Izet Mejhiti, from the Albanian coalition "VLEN" - part of the Government - also spoke on Friday.

"Slowly it is coming to an end with the effect it had. I wish any other initiative to be comprehensive and include all countries, including the Republic of Kosovo. Only united as partners, the states among themselves can achieve prosperity for the region and the citizens", Mejhiti told Television 21.

The "VLEN" coalition had promised the departure of North Macedonia from this initiative, as part of their electoral platform. However, Prime Minister Mickoski's participation in the "Open Balkan" activities has led to discussions on the priorities and approach of the current Government to this initiative. The same thing, during the election campaign for the president of North Macedonia, was warned by the candidate, Bujar Osmani from DUI, at that time also the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia. Osmani's statements came after the attack in Banjska, Kosovo, on September 24 last year, where the police officer, Afrim Bunjaku, was killed.

"Since I now have more information about what happened in Banjska, I plan to inform the Government in a closed session, and it will decide how to act", Osmani had stated on April 18, during the election campaign for president of North Macedonia.

"Open Balkan" initiative

The "Open Balkans" initiative, launched on October 10, 2019 in Novi Sad by Serbian President Aleksandar Vu?i?, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and the former Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, was initially called "Mini-Schengen".

Within it, several agreements were reached, including those on economic cooperation and free movement.

The initiative was rejected by Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

All the countries of the Balkans are part of the Berlin Process, the initiative of the former German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, which dates back to 2014 and is supported by the West.

Its aim is to increase the cooperation between the countries of the Western Balkans, and gradually bring them closer to the EU./ Rel