Brnabic, Kovacevski, Abazovic and Dodik: The Western Balkans has a lot to offer, no one can do anything alone

The Prime Ministers of Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia Ana Brnabic, Dritan Abazovic and Dmitar Kovacevski expressed the expectation that the region would continue to show unity and solidarity in 2023, as well as that important steps would take place that would mean a completely new beginning for the Western Balkans which, as they emphasize, it has something to offer to Europe and the world, RTV reports.

The President of Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik believes that the events of the past decades as well as the current conflict in Eastern Europe will affect the development of events in the region and adds that in such circumstances it is difficult to be optimistic, but there is no basis for pessimism either.

Brnabic: A new beginning

When asked how she sees the region in 2023, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said for Tanjug that Serbia would continue to be deeply committed to the Open Balkans initiative and all other regional initiatives in this new year.

"I look forward to the introduction of electronic identification for all citizens as part of the Open Balkans initiative - ID cards that will allow us to cross borders without any detention, that there are practically no borders between us, that we have an unhindered flow of goods, people, capital and services," Brnabic said.
 
She added that she could not wait to see the border crossings where there would be a single marked lane for trucks and passenger vehicles of the Open Balkans countries.

"I think it will be a completely new beginning for the Balkans, with this the young people will symbolically see that we can create a new future," said Brnabic and stressed that she still believed that with all the challenges that existed and the problems caused by Albin Kurti's unreasonable politics, everyone together had the strength to show the young generations that there were politicians responsible enough to fight for a better future.

As she says, she put the emphasis on the Open Balkans initiative, because it is "our own, autochthonous initiative, launched by us from the region". On this occasion, she expressed her sincere hope that other partners from the region would slowly join her.

Abazovic: To be wiser

The President of the Montenegrin Government, Dritan Abazovic, expects that everyone in the region will be wiser and dedicated to friendship and togetherness, that they will see each other as friends who will build a common future for the benefit of all citizens while increasing the standard of living.

"In the region in the coming year, we want to be much wiser, dedicated to friendship and togetherness, to leave behind the politics of the past, to build a common European future, to leave the 90s in a mental and political sense and to understand that in the 21st century in 2023, we must be more determined to achieve a higher standard of living, greater mobility of citizens, to reconcile, but on the basis of strong and firm commitments to protect universal values," he pointed out.

Abazovic for Tanjug emphasizes that the region of the Western Balkans has something to offer to Europe and the world.

However, he adds that it is necessary to change the current practice, and as he says, we must not see each other as enemies, but as friends, neighbors, people with whom we will cooperate, live and build a common future.

He emphasizes that he truly believes that everyone in the region will be wiser, more determined, more just and ready to finally make a breakthrough this year.

"The Western Balkans needs a new politics based on European values and the achievement of an overall higher standard of living. I am sure that Montenegro will contribute in everything. And that is why I expect the same and greater contribution from all our friends and neighbors from the region," Abazovic said and wished Happy New Year to Serbian citizens with the wish that they always look forward to joint meetings and do the right things for everyone.

Kovacevski: No one can do anything alone

The Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dmitar Kovacevski, told Tanjug in response to the same question that he believed that this year would be better than 2022 for North Macedonia, but also for the region, but also that he expected that with the already proven and demonstrated solidarity possibly new obstacles would be overcome.

"No one can do anything alone, that's why we always insist and will insist on good neighborliness and solidarity. When a person has friends and support, and if he works hard, there is no unattainable goal," he said.

The Prime Minister of North Macedonia reminded that they had gone through difficult years, that the last one had been especially difficult, in which, after the pandemic and the economic crisis, a war had took place in the wider environment, which was why they were faced with an energy crisis, which, he added, had been mitigated thanks to good neighborly relations. That is why he emphasizes that this model of mutual aid should be applied in the years to come.

"In solidarity, as a result of our excellent good-neighborly relations, we managed to protect our citizens from price spikes, as well as to cope with the challenges of the energy crisis. The good-neighborliness and solidarity that we all showed played a huge role in ensuring that citizens do not worry about whether they will to have enough food, electricity and to keep their homes warm," Kovacevski said.

He reminds that everyone will benefit from the effects of joint effort and implemented projects.

"As a result of numerous agreements and memoranda within the framework of the Open Balkans, mutual trade is growing, we are present together with our wine and tourist offer, we are simplifying access to the labor market. I expect that this will be a motive for other countries from the region to join the initiative by which the Western Balkans become European and open in the practical sense of the word," Kovacevski said.

He emphasized that cooperation and economic development, apart from being the best ways to open new perspectives, also bring stability, security, and the possibility of closing historical issues, through dialogue and understanding.

"Northern Macedonia can help with its experience in this regard as a model civil state with respect for the rights of all citizens and with relaxed inter-ethnic relations", he said and emphasized that all the crises we faced showed how vulnerable the region was, and therefore was is no need for additional crises that would raise tensions.

"The model by which we, as small states, helped each other in critical moments of global earthquakes to more easily overcome the consequences, should guide us in 2023 and in the years to come," said Kovacevski and wished all citizens of Serbia Happy New Year and Christmas holidays. He wished them good health, many beautiful moments and much success in the New Year 2023.

Dodik: Permanent crisis

The President of Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik reminds that everything that happened in the previous decades speaks volumes about the development of events in 2023 in our region and adds that it is unrealistic to believe that the Euro-Atlantic centers will be able to change their approach to the region.

Dodik for Tanjug adds that the leading Western powers are continuously trying to impose an order that they wrongly defined at the end of the last century as desirable, which implies the centralization of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the separation of Kosovo and Metohija from Serbia, the weakening of the Serbian factor in Montenegro, and the expansion of NATO.

He added that the fact that Washington, Brussels, and Berlin acted unilaterally, supporting the claims of Serbian regional opponents, while ignoring international law, was a generator of a crisis that "seems to have a permanent character in our country and in the surrounding area."

According to the President of the RS, it is unrealistic to believe that such an approach of the Euro-Atlantic power centers will change in the New Year.

"Furthermore, the current conflict in the east of Europe and the associated desire of Western factors to consolidate what they consider their zone of dominance, I believe will encourage them to act even more aggressively," said Dodik.

On the other hand, he emphasizes, neither Serbia nor Srpska will agree to have their interests and rights violated and their sovereignty destroyed.

"We will unwaveringly insist on the letter of the original Dayton, which means B&H as a democratic community of three equal peoples and two entities, that is, on Resolution 1244 and other agreements that confirm the sovereignty of Serbia and Kosovo and Metohija", Dodik stressed.

He added that in such circumstances it is difficult to be optimistic and forecast harmonious relations in the region in the coming period, but that there was no basis for pessimism either.

According to Dodik, the Serbian people will, as they succeeded in previous years, persist in defending their vital interests, but will also be open to a real, authentic dialogue with all other peoples of the region, which should lead to sustainable compromises on all disputed issues. 

"And we will reach them when the big players leave us to negotiate on our own, which will happen sooner or later, but it is unlikely that it will happen this year. But we should not lose hope," he said.

He also assessed that the region was not just a powder keg, but is being misused by external factors.

"Apparently, they will try to do that in 2023 as well, but we will not allow them to set fire to it, and thus lead to an explosion. Banja Luka and Belgrade have consistently led the way up to now, and it will be the same this year as well, responsible politics, which has in mind the preservation of the interests of our people, but also the provision of peace and stability in the region," Dodik concluded.