President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani received her counterpart from North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski. After the meeting, they appeared at a joint press conference. The Open Balkans regional initiative was part of their discussion. Skepticism about this initiative was not lacking.

“Kosovo has great reservations regarding the political aspects of this initiative, but also regarding the security and economy because the aim is to use a kind of lobby to delay the European integration process,” said Osmani.

“I want to remind you that when it started as an initiative in 2019, I was the first politician to express reservations. This initiative lacks something, instead of being the six states, there are only three. “Unless this initiative includes all the countries in the region, it will not succeed,” said Stevo Pendarovski, president of North Macedonia.
Osmani accused Russia of destabilizing the Western Balkans, through Serbia. “Kosovo and our region still face great risks in the field of security with the destabilizing tendencies of Russia through Serbia and as the Republic of Kosovo we are committed not only to reject such malicious influences, but we will work with all partners. our westerners and in full coordination with international partners in order to prevent such destabilizing impacts ”.

On the other hand, the President of North Macedonia said that he supports the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and underlined that it remains the only solution to have stability in the region. During his stay in Pristina, Pendarovski also met with the Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, and the Speaker of the Assembly, Glauk Konjufca.

/Klara Ruci/