{"id":36628,"date":"2022-05-18T22:49:45","date_gmt":"2022-05-18T20:49:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/?p=36628"},"modified":"2022-05-18T23:34:10","modified_gmt":"2022-05-18T21:34:10","slug":"difficult-to-resolve-dispute-with-bulgaria-without-help-from-eu-says-ahmeti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/difficult-to-resolve-dispute-with-bulgaria-without-help-from-eu-says-ahmeti\/","title":{"rendered":"Difficult to resolve dispute with Bulgaria without help from EU, says Ahmeti"},"content":{"rendered":"

The leader of the Democratic Union for Integration Ali Ahmeti says he hopes the ruling coalition in Bulgaria finds compromise in lifting the veto against North Macedonia and clears the path to accession negotiations.<\/p>\n

In an exclusive interview for Balkan Talks on Euronews Albania, Ahmeti said it would be impossible to resolve the diplomatic impasse without the assistance of the European Union.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout the help of the European Union, it would be difficult to have a positive epilogue on this issue, as it is filled with emotional, folkloric, and ethnic feelings\u201d, said Ahmeti.<\/p>\n

According to him, North Macedonia has fulfilled its deeds, but it\u2019s still uncertain whether there will be any positive developments.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen that the new Bulgarian prime minister has been quite engaged to close the issue, but there are many political parties inside this coalition. We\u2019ve taken the appropriate steps, and also what was asked from the Bulgarian party, but there is still no concrete step which could point to a positive development in June\u201d, said Ahmeti.<\/p>\n

However, North Macedonia remains hopeful about finding a permanent solution, concluded Ahmeti.<\/p>\n

\u2018Open Balkan good for entire region\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ali Ahmeti believes the Open Balkan initiative serves not only North Macedonia but the entire region.<\/p>\n

According to the leader of the largest ethnic Albanian party in North Macedonia, Balkan countries will only benefit from joining this initiative.<\/p>\n

\u201cNorth Macedonia and Albania have nothing to lose, and neither does any other country that might join us. The agreement is non-binding, it’s not violent, and it means to accept what you think is fair. We have seen the Open Balkan as something necessary for the region, but without actually imposing it on others\u201d, Ahmeti said.<\/p>\n

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