site.btaForeign Minister Zaharieva Welcomes NGOs' Role for Western Balkans' European Integration

March 10 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva welcomes the role of NGOs for the
development of civil society and the Western Balkans' European
integration. This is one of the Berlin Process' added values to
the Western Balkans, which is jointly presided over by Bulgaria
and North Macedonia for the first time, Zaharieva's Ministry
reported in a Tuesday press release.

The Bulgarian Foreign Minister addressed the participants in a
forum of NGOs in Skopje titled "Stimulating Strategic Autonomy.
Western Balkans' Contribution to a Common European Future",
which is held as part of the upcoming Berlin Process Foreign
Ministers' Meeting to be hosted by Zaharieva and North
Macedonia's top diplomat Nikola Dimitrov. The forum, which
gathers experts and political analysts, was organized by the
Institute for Democracy "Societas Civilis" - Skopje in
partnership with the European Council on Foreign Relations'
Sofia office. 

Zaharieva confirmed Bulgaria's support for the start of
negotiations on North Macedonia's and Albania's EU membership.
She admitted that certain EU Member States are not enthusiastic
about the enlargement. RY/MY
 


/СН/