Zaev: The "Open Balkan" initiative is the foundation of new socio-economic perspectives

The Prespa Agreement was the driving force for new initiatives that were not possible until then. Today, regional cooperation and initiatives like the Open Balkan are the foundations and enhancers of new socio-economic perspectives, because they rest on dialogue and mutual support, the former Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, writes in an analysis for "Predizvici" magazine, on the topic of "Resilience of Democracy".

According to him, this is because they are at the core of democracy and liberalism, but they are direct opponents of radicalism and authoritarian, self-sufficient regimes.

"It is precisely for this reason that initiatives for cooperation and connection, such as the ``Open Balkan,'' had and still have opponents among nationalists and autocrats. But this is a time of struggle between moderates and radicals, and the sooner moderate left and right leaders and citizens get to know each other, unite and unify, the sooner and easier we will save the Balkans from the sparks of nationalism, which, sometimes, even overshadow Prespa with unpleasant smoke and smell," Zaev said.

In the text, the former prime minister adds that moderate leftists and rightists have a responsibility to call for united action and to oppose together the radical centers and tendencies that merge from the left and the right, using the most dangerous methods of manipulation, causing conflicts and collisions.