The US special envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, says the idea of ​​a free and peaceful Europe is not complete without the Western Balkans. In an interview with VOA’s Macedonian Service following the US-North Macedonia Strategic Dialogue, Mr. Escobar expressed US support for the launch of intergovernmental conferences with the EU on Skopje and Tirana. He said he hoped to compromise to overcome the stalemate presented by Bulgaria.

Mr. Escobar said that the Strategic Dialogue between Washington and Skopje is a way to deepen relations in all areas.

“As the newest member of NATO, North Macedonia has contributed a lot, so we are trying to find ways to work together to help resolve some of the Balkan issues, some of the bilateral issues and some of the global issues, ”he said.

Mr Escobar said the country had made all the necessary reforms to start intergovernmental conferences with the European Union and that the United States strongly supported the accession process.

“So, it is not just a question of North Macedonia being in the European Union. We need North Macedonia in the European Union, we need the entire Western Balkans in the European Union. The idea that we started in 1989 to create a completely free and peaceful Europe is not yet complete and we must continue to work for it,”said Escobar.

The senior State Department official expressed hope that North Macedonia and Bulgaria, which he said are good allies and valued members of NATO, would find a solution through compromise, dialogue and goodwill negotiations.

“I think that it is the turn of North Macedonia and Albania to start the process of Intergovernmental Conferences,” he said.

Mr Escobar said the Western Balkans region has great economic and trade prospects.

“The Western Balkans is the fastest growing part of Europe. It has the potential to be a regional leader in Renewable Energy, Liquefied Natural Gas, Transport, Technology and almost everything else in the region,” he said.

For this reason, he said, the United States supports any cooperation initiative between the countries of the region.

/Klara Ruci/