The US State Department says it supports any regional initiative based on European Union rules aimed at economic empowerment of the Western Balkan countries. This comment came after the meeting held in Ohrid of North Macedonia, within the “Open Balkans”.

In a statement to Radio Free Europe, a State Department spokesman declined to comment on Kosovo’s non-participation in the meeting, but said that “closer and more integrated co-operation throughout the Western Balkans will attract energy investment, banking, manufacturing, services and other sectors in a market of 20 million educated workers and customers in the heart of Europe ”.

“The United States supports these and other complementary initiatives, which collectively deepen regional economic cooperation and advance the European path,” the State Department spokesman told REL.

Present at the Ohrid meeting were the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia, Dimitar Kovacevski, the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Dritan Abazovic, and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zoran Tageltija.

North Macedonia, Albania and Serbia on Wednesday signed four co-operation agreements – on the fight against tax evasion, the recognition of higher education diplomas, cultural co-operation and co-operation in the field of tourism.

Speaking via video link, the US special envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said the US supported the “Open Balkans” initiative.

/Klara Ruci/