Official: No Particular Problems in Belgrade-Skopje Relations

North Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Dimitrov (Photo: printscreen/youtube/FRANCE 24 English)

North Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Dimitrov has said that there are no particular problems in relations between Belgrade and Skopje and that there is understanding.

"I would not say there are any particular problems. There is understanding, I think we have more or less common goals. We have a shared history, past, we want to have a shared European future, too. Serbia has headed down that road, it has launched accession negotiations, we unfortunately are still waiting and knocking on that door," Dimitrov told N1 TV late on Oct. 28.

Regarding the Open Balkans initiative, which comprises Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania, Dimitrov said that a common regional market was a kind of "preparation" for entering the common European market.

"What is important is that the initiative is open for all because it is a bit difficult to talk about regional cooperation if the entire region is not included. The fact is also that there are obvious benefits from that. For example, an agreement on mutual aid in natural disasters," he said.

Dimitrov, the deputy prime minister in charge of European integration and a former foreign minister, said that the region's European integration was in a crisis and that citizens' support for membership in the EU was declining.

"People are rightly wondering whether us becoming a part of the European Union one day is realistic. Support for European integration is still great, but is gradually decreasing. And the belief that membership is possible is declining. That simultaneously weakens the pro-European and pro-reform political forces," said the North Macedonian deputy prime minister.