Mickoski: Serbia is one of the most important economic partners of North Macedonia

For the sake of the lives of our citizens and our future, we should work to build peace here and thereby contribute to peace in Europe. The only chance offered to North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania in this crisis is to show that we have learned the lessons of the past and to build a better common future, said the president of the VMRO-DPMNE party, Hristijan Mickoski, in an interview for "Politika".

Mickoski said that, with respect to cooperation between Serbia and North Macedonia, there is room for improvement, especially in the area of infrastructure, energy and economy in general.

"The construction of a better railway and road connection between our country and a gas pipeline connection that will guarantee energy connectivity is a condition for the greater well-being of the citizens of Serbia and Macedonia. Our countries have traditionally had good economic relations, Serbia is one of our most important economic partners", Mickoski emphasized.

When asked to comment on major changes in the world order and to assess the chances of small countries, such as North Macedonia and Serbia, which together with Albania belong to the "Open Balkans" initiative, Mickoski said that it was important to support strategic processes that would ensure peace.

"Macedonia, like neither Serbia nor Albania, is not a decisive force in these processes. They must be very careful and represent their interests that are strategically relevant for this region. These difficult times for Europe and the world requires a lot of wisdom, a cool head and careful statements. We from this area know what the destruction caused by wars means and what consequences remain after them. We are a small country on which many global processes do not depend, but the decisions made by politicians regarding these processes greatly affect the lives of our citizens. For the sake of the lives of our citizens and our future, we should work to build peace here and thereby contribute to peace in Europe. The only chance offered to Macedonia, Serbia and Albania in this crisis is to show that we have learned the lessons of the past and to build a better common future" Mickoski pointed out.

When asked how he sees the development of European integration in the Western Balkans and North Macedonia, Mickoski said that the European integration of any country should not be conditioned by subjective political criteria.

"The Western Balkan countries face a serious challenge to reach the Copenhagen criteria, although I am convinced that at this stage they are much more prepared than other countries that previously entered the EU. We have a serious challenge ahead of us: dealing with the fight against organized crime, the rule of law, economic and social issues that will bring us closer to European values. That was our homework, on which we directed our capacities and energy," Mickoski said.