In a panel discussion on the EU-US synergy of actions towards Western Balkans, attended by the prime ministers of Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as foreign ministers of Austria and Turkey, Minister Rau underlined the importance of close transatlantic cooperation not only for the security of the entire transatlantic area but also for the future of Western Balkans. He also noted the importance of the NATO enlargement process for the stability of the region and underlined that it was a historic moment for North Macedonia, which became NATO’s 30th member last year.

In his speech, the head of Polish MFA stated that Poland fully supports Western Balkan states’ European aspirations.  “Poland will definitely speak for opening accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania during Slovenia’s presidency of the EU Council,” announced Minister Rau. He also noted Poland’s and the whole EU solidarity with the Western Balkan states in the context of fighting COVID-19 pandemic. He also pointed out the opportunities that the Western Balkans can use in the Three Seas Initiative, a venture with strong US presence. “We are open to cooperation between countries of the Three Seas Initiative and Western Balkan partners in the joint implementation of strategic infrastructure projects, which will strengthen connectivity in the transport, energy and digital sectors,” said Minister Rau in his remarks.

At the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, the chief of Polish diplomacy took part in the first edition of the Prespa Forum for Dialogue. It is an international conference organised under the auspices of Prime Minister of the Government of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev under the motto “Western Balkans: The Missing Puzzle for Completing Europe.” Its concept draws on the historic agreement with Greece, signed at Prespa Lake on 17 June 2018, which ended the quarter of a century long dispute over the country’s name and made it possible for North Macedonia to join NATO.

In the margins of the Forum, the Polish minister of foreign affairs met with Nikola Dimitrov, Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs of North Macedonia, who as its foreign minister signed the Prespa agreement in 2018. Minister Rau assured Deputy Prime Minister Dimitrov of strong Polish support for the European aspirations of the Western Balkans, stressing that North Macedonia and other countries of the region are an integral part of the European family.

 

MFA Press Office

 

Phtoto : Tymon Markowski / MFA
Video: Gabriel Piętka / MFA

 

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