I believe that the Balkans is no longer a time bomb, but becomes a European Balkans where bridges of friendship are built and solutions are found through dialogue and cooperation. I am convinced that solutions to the existing problems can be found through dialogue, PM Zoran Zaev said in the interview with N1 TV late Tuesday.
Asked about the idea of unification of Kosovo and Albania, he said it was not good, and that the common future of all countries in the region is in the European Union.
“A Europe without borders in which people cooperate and communicate and I am convinced that these are ideas from individuals who are in the minority and don’t have a future, because I believe that the future lies in promoting cooperation,” Zaev said.
Speaking about the mini-Schengen initiative, he stressed that will bring benefits for everyone, and will promote regional cooperation.
“It will bring benefits for everyone thus providing opportunities for jobs for example a Macedonian can apply for a job in Nis or Novi Sad, just like a Serb can apply for a job in Strumica or Skopje, also mutual exchange of goods really to speed up the process of border crossings, and mutual recognition of academic and professional qualifications in sectors of interest making easier for people to find jobs as well as for foreign investors in demand of skilled workers,” Zaev underlined.
He expressed hope that the new Kosovo government, but also Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina will consider seriously the mini-Schengen initiative, because in this way, the region as a whole will move faster towards the EU.
Regarding the relations between Belgrade and Skopje, having in mind the fact that Serbia donated several thousand vaccines to the Republic of North Macedonia, but also the problems in the past, Zaev said that the cooperation between the countries is constantly improving.
“The Serbian and Macedonian people have always been great friends and brothers, most of them are Orthodox Christians, and we have excellent cooperation. In the past, we had certain events that took place during the change of government in mid-2017, because process of large-scale wiretapping was going on in the country,” Zaev said, adding that as soon as he assumed office as new Prime Minister, he solved the problem with Vucic and since then they have established cooperation that is constantly improving.
He said a few months ago North Macedonia decided to reintroduce the teaching of the Serbian language as an elective subject between third to sixth grades of elementary education, and that preparations are being made to do so in upper grades.
“The donation of over 8,000 vaccines by the Serbian people is an act of solidarity in times of global vaccine shortages. It is a really great act of friendship that we will not forget,” Zaev said.
Asked if the dispute between the Macedonian Orthodox Church (MOC) and the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) may affect relations with Serbia, Zaev confirmed that he urged the Ecumenical Patriarch to grant the Macedonian Orthodox Church autocephaly independence and that he raised the issue in the note sent to the newly elected Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Bishop Porfirije.
“I believe that we can find a solution … We see hope through dialogue between the SOC and the MOC in order to recognize the autocephaly of the MOC. The Serbian Orthodox Church exists in North Macedonia, citizens go to Serbian temples. We are ready to respect the religious affiliation of the citizens, we also respect the secular character of Serbia and North Macedonia… Politicians are here to create conditions for the bishops to reach a solution,” Zaev noted.
In the interview, he also talked about the coronavirus crisis and possible travel restrictions. Asked if the government in Skopje is considering how passengers from Serbia will pass through North Macedonia during the summer, given the state of the coronavirus, Zaev said that even when we have seen the highest number of infected, the borders with Serbia remained open, with the exception of travel ban imposed over new UK coronavirus variant.
