The US and the EU support the “Open Balkans” regional initiative. That was the message given today at the summit in Ohrid by the US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, and the Commissioner for Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi.

Escobar, through a video message, asked Kosovo to become part of this initiative, while emphasizing that this initiative supported by the US should include all six countries.

“We will help you build the future. The region has the potential to be an energy hub, which will help fight climate change. It has the capacity to be the center of natural gas. The Western Balkans is the fastest growing part of Europe. We will make things easier. The United States supports this ‘Open Balkans’ initiative. We support all economic incentives that bring countries closer together and promote peace and development. Every initiative for economic integration should include all 6 countries,” he said.

On the other hand, Varhelyi stated that the “Open Balkans” is a good opportunity for the region and that it could be an opportunity to accelerate the path to EU integration.

“I take this invitation as an invitation for the EU to be part of this process, because I think that this initiative is not only good and that everyone supports it, but it is an opportunity that the region has been facing for decades, it can normally be “Opportunity to speed up the road to the EU,” he said.

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, participating for the first time in an “Open Balkans” summit, said they would soon become part of the initiative.

The head of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Council of Ministers, Zoran Tegeltija, said the Open Balkans could initiate significant economic potential for the region.

“I am confident that the Open Balkans can initiate a significant economic potential of the Region. I am sure that Bosnia and Herzegovina will become a member of the Open Balkans. The fact that it was supported by the US gives me the opportunity to believe that it will soon be part of the Open Balkans. We are facing an unbearable increase in prices and I think the situation is similar,” said Tegeltija.

The Prime Minister of Montenegro, Dritan Abazovic, stressed that an open dialogue is needed between the states in order to establish mutual trust.

“Any initiative that pushes towards progress will be supported by Montenegro. For me, we need to have dialogue and this will lead us to mutual trust and together to interact with activities that push towards progress in the region. Policies of disrespect and emphasis on discontinuous policies has kept us here. I am pleased that the administration also supports this initiative. We need open dialogue, to create new policies. In the Western Balkans we deserve a story that shows all our goodness. We need to change our mentality,” he said.

Meanwhile, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the “Open Balkans” initiative could not be stopped. He stated that all the countries of the Western Balkans are welcome to join the initiative, while at the next summit to be held in Belgrade, where working groups will be formed to resolve food supply problems, Vucic also invited Pristina.

“We managed to solve problems that stood before us for 50 or 60 years. We have no demands on anyone except to be friends and cooperate for the good of our country. This initiative can not be stopped. All Western Balkan countries are welcome. We advance our relationships. At the next meeting I propose to be in Serbia to form working groups that will take care of how to overcome food supply problems, how to help each other spend the winter. Representatives of Prishtina are also invited to participate in these groups. The goal is to speed up our joint agreements,” Vucic said.

/Klara Ruci/