THE PRESIDENT of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, arrived this morning at the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Brussels. The meeting of EU leaders and six partners with the WB starts, according to the plan, at 9.30 am in the European Council, and Serbia will be represented by President Vučić.
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Vučić: Once again, nothing happened
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, stated that Serbia, Northern Macedonia and Albania understand each other.
– Once again, nothing happened. I believe that our friends from Skopje and Tirana deserve the start of negotiations. This is necessary because both countries have met all EU requirements.
Vučić about the European political community
He said Serbia had increased trade with the EU by more than 30 per cent.
– We are immensely grateful to Charles Michel and all those who supported us on our European path. We discussed everything and that is why it is necessary to accept Macron’s initiative (formation of the European political community), and it will mean the formation of a new political community. That is a good way for us to have our voice heard – said Vučić.
The president says he was under pressure not to impose sanctions on Russia.
He points out that he received information from people from the service that 2,629 articles were printed in the European media in Serbia after the “Russian attack” that “Serbia threatens the entire region of the Western Balkans, the sovereignty of the so-called Kosovo”, but nothing happened.
– My question for you is whether you have heard the apology of these media about the fabrications that they transmitted to the citizens – said the President of Serbia.
He emphasizes that he is obliged to act in accordance with the conclusions of the National Security Council and is grateful to those from the EU who wanted to hear us.
He says that the formation of the Open Balkans is not the idea of Viktor Orban, but also of Vladimir Putin.
– Three Balkan nations have moved and found a solution, at least for some of our problems. Is it forbidden and should it be banned? – Vucic asked.
The President promised his European colleagues that he would do everything possible to achieve European standards.
Vučić, Rama and Kovačevski are addressing the public
Kovacevski says his country is wasting precious time that is not available.
– What is happening now is a big problem and a big blow to the credibility of the EU – said the Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia and said that the country has done a lot so far and made some difficult decisions, and now is the time for the EU to fulfill its promises. what a new one.
He thanked Macron for his commitment to resolving the problems in the negotiations between Northern Macedonia and the EU.
– We have done everything, now the EU is on the move – said the Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia.
He advocated for the protection of the identity of his people, so that the country could enter the EU with dignity.
Rama: I felt bad today in Brussels, not to put pressure on Serbia because of Russia
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said he was deeply saddened by the EU.
“I feel sorry for them and I hope we can help,” Rama said.
He says that Charles Michel told the leaders of the Western Balkans that they had 3 minutes to talk and that it was not enough. He says that he felt bad because they come to Brussels as guests, not as Europeans.
Rama reminds that Northern Macedonia has been a candidate for EU membership for 17 years and that it has even changed its name, while Albania has been waiting for 8 years.
“Imagine France changing its name,” Rama said. He said that “Bulgaria is a disgrace”, but that it was not the only reason to stop the EU enlargement process.
He points out that, despite everything, the Balkan countries will be in the EU. He also advocated visa liberalization for the fake state of Kosovo.
He says that Vladimir Putin’s popularity is very great in Serbia, and points out that he does not understand that Serbia is pushing to the extreme limits regarding sanctions against Russia.
– Serbia is not in a position to achieve things very quickly, and if we put pressure on Serbia, we could pay for it with the European future of Serbia – Rama said.
He says Albanians have great faith in the EU, regardless of Brussels’ behavior.
– Europe is our religion, Europe is not Brussels – said the Prime Minister of Albania.
The meeting of the leaders of the EU and the Western Balkans, Vučić, with Macron has ended
The meeting of the leaders of the EU and the Western Balkans in Brussels ended shortly after 1 pm, and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, immediately afterwards had a bilateral meeting with the President of France, Emanuel Macron.
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Petkov at EU-Western Balkans Summit: Solution to be found in Bulgarian parliament
Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, whose government was given a vote of no confidence in parliament yesterday, stressed that a solution to the northern Macedonian problem must be found in the Bulgarian parliament, and accused the opposition of blocking it.
– A solution should be sought in the Bulgarian Parliament, because the Assembly is the institution that best represents the citizens – Petkov said before today’s EU-Western Balkans Summit in Brussels.
He accused former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, the leader of the opposition, of being most responsible for the situation.
– He tells you in the morning that he will support the opening of accession negotiations with Northern Macedonia, which is a great thing, and then in the afternoon he blocks the parliament. He has pursued such a policy in recent years as well – Petkov criticized his predecessor.
The summit has officially begun
The leaders of the EU and the Western Balkans started a meeting in Brussels at around 10:00 AM, at which they discussed ways to strengthen the region’s integration into the EU.
The meeting is attended by the leaders of all six Western Balkan partners, and Serbia is represented by the President of the Republic, Aleksandar Vučić.
Before this meeting, EU representatives said that it was important that after 20 years of giving the EU perspective to the Western Balkan countries, the process of their accession was “revitalized” through faster integration of Western Balkan partners with the EU during the accession process.
Vučić: Gone are the days when independent and free states could be blackmailed
After arriving at the Summit, the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, answered the questions of the journalists.
– Gone are the days when independent and free states could be blackmailed. We came here to a friend. I believe in the European future of both Serbia and the region. Together with our friends from the region, we will fight for that European future, but respecting ourselves. We can do that together. That we are scared and that we are very small, and some very big, leave it at that, these are stories for small children. Northern Macedonia is our brotherly country. We do not ask or expect anything from you, only to rapidly develop our friendly and fraternal relations, and I believe that we will always be together on the European path and on all other paths – said Vučić.
Photo: Tanjung/AP
Answering the questions of the journalists, the President reiterated the position that Serbia supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine, but also that it also supports the territorial integrity of Serbia, which, as he states, is not the position of many countries.
– We are always for the progress of all Balkan countries on the European path – said Vučić.
Asked if he expects criticism from Serbia not imposing sanctions on Russia, he said:
– I expected, I didn’t expect, he will get an answer.
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Asked how he views the statements of Croatian officials that “Serbia can no longer sit on two chairs”, the president said:
– Serbia is sitting on its chair. And it is not your prime minister and your president who will lead the policy of Serbia, but the citizens of Serbia through their leadership. I congratulate them on the fact that they would like to lead the policy of Serbia, because that shows our importance and I wish them all the best.
Photo: Tanjung/AP
Addressing Rama
The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, said today, after arriving at the EU-Western Balkans Summit, that it was a shame that one NATO country, Bulgaria, “kidnapped” two other members, Northern Macedonia and Albania, on their European path.
Photo: Tanjug
Asked whether he supports the candidate status for Ukraine, Rama said that Ukrainians should not have many illusions.
Rama told reporters that this is a new day in Europe, but not in Bulgaria.
He said that Albania knows that there is always a Bulgaria on the European path, but that it will not change its course, that it will continue to build Europe in its home.
– “Open Balkans” is a realistic answer to the situation in which we continue the path of integration because we have no alternative – he added.
Asked whether he supports the candidate status for Ukraine, Rama reminded that Northern Macedonia has been a candidate for 17 years, Albania for eight, and that Ukrainians should not have many illusions.
Foto: Printscreen
Photo: Tanjung/AP
Photo: Tanjung/AP
Photo: Tanjung/AP
It should be reminded that after detailed and comprehensive consultations with associates and members of governments, the leaders of Serbia, Albania and Northern Macedonia – Vucic, Edi Rama and Dimitri Kovacevski – made a decision yesterday to go to the EU-Western Balkans summit together. In yesterday’s conversation between Vučić, Rama and Kovačevski, the principles that will be the main backbone of the talks with numerous European Union officials were agreed upon, the Presidency of Serbia announced.
According to Novosti’s interlocutors, the decision on a unified position sent a strong message to Brussels, which often has an unfair and unprincipled attitude towards the countries of the region and their progress, that Belgrade, Tirana and Skopje can not only cooperate economically, but also act politically together. .
The participation of the leaders of the “Open Balkans” countries at the summit was uncertain, because the representatives of Skopje, dissatisfied with the EU’s treatment of this country, thought not to travel to Brussels, and Rama and Vucic were ready to show solidarity with Northern Macedonia.
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