Stoilkovic: Open Balkan is challenged by those who want AlMaKos

President of the Democratic Party of Serbs in North Macedonia, Ivan Stoilkovic, assessed for Kosovo Online that anyone trying to discredit the Open Balkan initiative surely had a different perspective on the development of the situation on the Balkan Peninsula, especially regarding relations between Serbia and North Macedonia. He believes that challenging Open Balkan essentially implies a different option, and the only narrative, as he claims, heard in the last 20 years is 'AlMaKos', meaning the unification of North Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo.

"It is just wishful thinking. Why is Open Balkan a problem? Because anyone attempting to discredit that initiative surely has a different perspective or a different view on the development of the situation on the Balkan Peninsula in general. Especially when it comes to relations between Serbia and North Macedonia. In that sense, challenging Open Balkan is essentially a narrative about a different option. The only narrative heard in the last 20 years is 'AlMaKos,' which is the unification of North Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo. In that sense, the establishment of a 'Greater Albania' is not something new but only a confirmation of the policy pursued by the international community. Although North Macedonia was kept on a long leash for many years with various promises, it turned out that it was all a lie," Stoilkovic says.

He adds that this lie can be exposed.

"How to expose the lie? Well, nicely, let them show themselves to the end. The first display of such politics, and it was a vulgar display, was the instrumentalized visit of Albin Kurti to North Macedonia. Ostensibly, he visited the opposition, but in reality, he came to send a message to the Macedonians. It's the same with the latest events in Kosovo. An orchestrated campaign against Serbia to make Serbia relent and recognize so-called independent Kosovo," Stoilkovic believes.