Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will pay a visit to Northern Macedonia today. This is the first visit of a Dutch Prime Minister to the country, and it happens at a time when the country is facing a political crisis and the day before the vote of confidence in the Government. Rutte is coming to Skopje during the blockade from Bulgaria on the European integration of Northern Macedonia.
According to the Dutch Embassy in the country, Rute will meet with Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and representatives of young people from civil society, and will end the visit with working dinner to be prepared by President Stevo Pendarovski.
A statement from the embassy said the meetings would focus on “good relations between the Netherlands and Northern Macedonia, European co-operation, developments in the region and NATO co-operation.” Skopje is the last stage of Rute’s regional visit, which also includes Greece and Albania.
The Netherlands supports the start of negotiations with Skopje and Tirana, and as Rutte pointed out at the recent EU-Western Balkans Summit in Brdo, he expects the blockade to be lifted after the elections in Bulgaria, and The Hague will help start accession talks as soon as possible.
– We will have to wait for the elections in Bulgaria. I am not happy with the fact that the accession negotiations with Northern Macedonia are still blocked. I think they should be unblocked as soon as possible. “We know and hope that this will probably happen after the elections in Bulgaria and we will try to do everything we can to make it happen,” Rutte said.
Rutte’s visit to Skopje was announced last week by Dutch Ambassador Dirk Jan Kopp.
– For the first time in the history of Northern Macedonia, our Prime Minister Mark Rutte will visit the country. He will be received by the Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia, said the ambassador.
Commenting on the announced resignation of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, the ambassador then reiterated the statement from Brussels given on behalf of all member states that the EU is monitoring the situation and that it is very important to stay on the path of reforms.
The Netherlands is a staunch supporter of the EU enlargement process, but insists on strict and consistent implementation of reforms, especially in the area of rule of law and the fight against corruption and organized crime.
Source: MIA
