site.btaPM Borissov: Western Balkan Countries Should Resolve Outstanding Bilateral Issues Before EU Summit in May

Skopje, April 28 (BTA) - The Western Balkan countries should resolve outstanding bilateral issues before the EU summit in May in order to be given a European perspective, said Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov in Skopje on Friday. He participated in a leaders' meeting of the countries of the Brdo-Brioni Process.

Borissov urged the state leaders of Kosovo and Serbia to resolve the issues between the their countries. "I hope that the selfishness of neither will prevail as this will block the whole process and that the leaders of Greece and Macedonia reach a compromise on the name and I insist that my friends Vucic and Thaci establish a direct channel of communication," said Borissov citing as an example the renewed communication between North and South Korea.

Borissov said that if the Western Balkan countries fail to take advantage of the summit in Sofia, then they will have only themselves to blame. "We fulfilled our promise. The matter of their EU accession is on the table, there is money for hybrid financing of infrastructure projects in the region. Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania are helping but the political class in the Western Balkans should address the problems," said Borissov. "Don't fall for populists and nationalists," he urged.

Macedonian President Gojrge Ivanov, who was hosting the meeting, said that the Western Balkan countries should be affiliated economically with the EU and placed hopes on the EU for that.

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic said that if the Western Balkan countries don't take the road to the EU, then the Balkans may remain in a vacuum and become susceptible to third countries. "In the past months we have had positive messages from the EU to this part of Europe. Each country in the Western Balkans has its challenges along the road to the EU. We'll do everything possible to help launch the negation process for Albania and Macedonia," the Croatian state leader said.

European Council President Donald Tusk said that the destiny of Southeastern Europe was important for the destiny of the whole of Europe. "We've made a firm commitment to the countries in the region to give them a European perspective. You have EU's full support," he said.

The Brdo Brioni Process was launched in 2013 by the presidents of Slovenia and Croatia to support the Western Balkans on their way to the Union, strengthen regional cooperation and resolve open bilateral issues.