The U.S. supports all efforts by the European Union and its member states to help North Macedonia and Bulgaria reach a solution more easily, a U.S. State Department spokesperson has told Voice of America asked whether Washington supported Austria’s offer to mediate between the two countries in resolving the issue.
“The historic Prespa Agreement showed that Western Balkan countries are capable of accomplishing difficult tasks, making compromises and finding solutions. We’re convinced that Bulgaria and North Macedonia will do the same by negotiating their bilateral disputes outside the EU accession process. The U.S. encourages all efforts by the EU and its member states to help the parties achieve this result more easily,” said the U.S. State Department spokesperson.
He added that the U.S. is a strong supporter of the EU membership bids of all Western Balkan countries.
“We believe that the future of the Western Balkans lies entirely within the EU. The enlargement process promotes long-term peace, stability and prosperity in the region,” the U.S. State Department spokesperson said.
Austrian Federal Minister for the EU and Constitution Karoline Edtstadler, during Tuesday’s visit to Skopje, offered that Austria acts as kind of a mediator between North Macedonia and Bulgaria in order to remove Bulgaria’s veto, so that the country could open the EU accession negotiations.
Minister Edtstadler said it would be a big mistake if negotiations failed to start because of bilateral conflicts or discussions, or due to unresolved historical issues.
