Kovacevski: There are no open questions between Serbia and North Macedonia

Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovacevski, assessed that today's talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic in Belgrade were another confirmation of cooperation between the two countries at the highest level since they had become independent.

Kovacevski pointed out that there was no open issue between the two countries, but that there were only discussions on how to make cooperation even better.

He states that the political will of their government is to deepen relations between neighbors, both on the political and economic levels.

"Our cooperation is versatile and highly developed. We talked about a large number of projects, but we also laid out the path for opening new initiatives. We are oriented to provide a better and more efficient business environment as quickly as possible. Excellent cooperation brings quality solutions in times of crisis," Kovacevski said and pointed out that he also had said at the press conference before the start of the winter period that the key to success was cooperation and solidarity, and that no country from the Open Balkan had had electricity restrictions.

North Macedonia had shown that it was not giving up on its strategic goals, Kovacevski said, adding that these were good neighborly relations and European integration.

"We not only share the principles of the EU, but we have achieved a high degree of compliance with them," he said.

According to him, Serbia and North Macedonia belonged to the democratic and free part of Europe, and just as the countries from the Western Balkans had an interest in becoming members of the EU, the EU also had an interest in the integration of the countries of the region, because in this way conflicts would be prevented, and the states would become politically and economically stable and could continue to develop.

As he says, precisely because they are committed to ensuring the four freedoms of the EU, they participate in the Berlin process, CEFTA, and regional initiatives.

"That is why we are the initiators of the Open Balkan initiative, our citizens appreciate it, Prime Minister Brnabic mentioned certain data related to the increase in trade, the export of North Macedonia to Serbia has increased, and we have reduced the deficit. Since the establishment of the Open Balkan, the number of tourists coming from Serbia has increased five times," Kovacevski said.

He added that within the framework of cooperation, they wanted to show that this region was prosperous; that brotherly nations lived here.

Kovacevski also stated that the cultural cooperation between North Macedonia and Serbia was at the highest level.

Stating that the Law on Ratification for the opening of cultural centers of Serbia in Skopje and North Macedonia in Belgrade had gone through parliamentary procedures and should be voted on, Kovacevski said that as soon as the technical obstacles were removed, the appointment of the head of the Cultural Center in Belgrade would be started.

"We already have cultural centers in Sofia and Tirana. It will be a place that will be visited not only by Macedonians but also by a large number of the Serbs, who will be able to get acquainted with Macedonian culture," Kovacevski said.