Ramadani: Open Balkan is a pre-election campaign topic as well, Taravari "targets" Kurti's supporters

The President of the Euro-Atlantic Council of North Macedonia, Ismet Ramadani, assessed that raising the issue of this country's further participation in the Open Balkan initiative was the intention of the opposition Albanian front in the "VLEN" coalition to attract voters during the pre-election campaign who were favorable to the views of Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

"It is normal that once the Berlin Process is functioning, the Open Balkan cannot be its equivalent in terms of financial power, projects that can come from the EU... And citizens accept that, especially Albanian voters, especially those in the ranks of the 'VLEN' coalition, because we know Albin Kurti's views on the Open Balkan, and I think Taravari has hit the right moment and goal that work in his favor," Ramadani said.

Arben Taravari, a presidential candidate in North Macedonia's elections from the "VLEN" coalition, stated that if he wins, they will immediately request this country's withdrawal from the Open Balkan initiative.

Ramadani says that in this way, the opposition Albanian bloc is clearly opposing its main opponents, the Democratic Union for Integration party.

"There is an opinion that DUI was part of the government when the Open Balkan happened and that DUI ministers also participated in those meetings. Therefore, there is an indirect impression that DUI still advocates for the Open Balkan initiative, although I think they are slowly stepping back, considering that Edi Rama stated in his statement that now that the Berlin Process is already underway, it is time to move past the Open Balkan initiative," Ramadani said.

Ramadani says that no one in the Western Balkans can oppose the opening of borders, especially if it is not contrary to the principles of the EU and the US, but unlike the Open Balkan initiative, the Berlin Process offers a concept for all Western Balkan countries, including Kosovo.

"I would even say that the most painful point here is Kosovo, with the fact that Kosovo is an equal participant in the Berlin Process within the Western Balkan countries. It is natural for Albanians to accept it better," Ramadani emphasized.

Ramadani believes that regardless of the fact that the announced EU Enlargement Plan for the Western Balkans is gradually overshadowing, the Open Balkan initiative should continue to exist.

"It doesn't have to be called the Open Balkan, but this communication of trade and easier border crossing should continue. All of this contributes to simplifying border crossings. I think that should be accepted. It doesn't need to be called the Open Balkan anymore, but open borders between the Western Balkans. After all, former Prime Minister Kovacevski once said well that when we were Yugoslavia, there were no borders in all these countries, and here we were even ahead of the European Union because the EU had not yet entered into free borders, and if it returns, it is enough to be compatible and complementary with EU criteria and standards," Ramadani concluded.