US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs and Special Representative for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar is visiting Northern Macedonia today to meet with President Stevo Pendarovski and other officials.

The meetings in Skopje are expected to discuss current political developments in the country and the region, as well as European integration and the Bulgarian blockade of Northern Macedonia.

Escobar recently addressed the US House Foreign Affairs Committee and called on Northern Macedonia and Albania to start negotiations with the EU before the end of the year.

– The strongest message that the EU can send now is to start negotiations for EU membership of Northern Macedonia and Albania before the end of this calendar year. “It will dispel the frustration of the region’s population with European policies and stop the malicious influence of Russia and China, which are working against EU enlargement in the Western Balkans,” Escobar said.

He also noted that Skopje and Tirana had completed the difficult work required of them and that the process should begin without delay, citing a joint statement by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell that European integration was the only hope for the region.