He won't let go of his beard: Zaev invites Kurti to join regional co-operation initiative

The initiative in question, in which Albania, Serbia and Macedonia currently participate, was changed today until it called on Balkan leaders to create common vision for regional development.

“Nism is open to all Western Balkan countries, so we invite and encourage our colleagues to unite because of our peoples. We are all Western and European Balkans. Create a vision of real development to benefit all our citizens”, Zaev said.

The new name reflects the new reality which is reflected by all of us”, he said in advance.

The Macedonian prime minister said all Western Balkan countries should give new impulses to free economic market space.

“With harmonisation of investment policies will create a potential development in the region”, he said.

He said that, in addition, this regional co-operation could contribute to the relaxed relations in the region.

Kosovo had pledged to Washington's agreement to join the <x0mini-Schengen” initiative, but Albin Kurti, Kosovo's current prime minister, has since begun positioned himself as a sharp critic of this project. Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani is on the same line.

At the recent summit of Western Balkan leaders in Tirana, Kurti even declared that “mini-Schengeni” no longer exists.

“There is no more mini-Schengen, there is a joint regional market, and the Berlin Process, which will have the next meeting in the first half of July”, Kurti said.