Escobar: The idea of a free and peaceful Europe is not complete without the Western Balkans

The United States' special envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, says the idea of a free and peaceful Europe is not complete without the Western Balkans. In an interview for Macedonian Voice of America service after Strategic Dialogue US-North Macedonia, Mr. Escobar, expressed US support for the start of intergovernmental conferences with the EU for Skopje and Tirana. He said he hopes to be overcome by compromise the deadlock Bulgaria has presented.

Escobar said the Strategic Dialogue between Washington and Skopje is a way to deepen relations in all areas.

“As NATO's newest member, North Macedonia has contributed a lot, so we are trying to find ways to work together to help resolve some of the Balkan issues, some of the bilateral issues and some of the global issues”, he said.

Escobar said this country has made all reforms necessary to launch intergovernmental conferences with the European Union and that the United States strongly supports the membership process.

So it is not only that North Macedonia should be in the European Union. We need Northern Macedonia in the European Union, we need the entire Western Balkans in the European Union. The idea that we started in 1989 to create a completely free and peaceful Europe is not yet complete and we must continue to work on it”, he said.

The State Department's top official voiced hope that Macedonia and Bulgaria, which he said are good allies and NATO-worth members, will find a solution through compromise, dialogue and good will negotiations.

Responding to a question about the possibility of accelerating Ukraine's EU integration, Mr. Escobar said that as a special representative for the Western Balkans, he is focusing on this region.

I think it is Northern Macedonia and Albania that are next to begin the process of Intergovernmental Conferences. We have very close co-operation with the EU when it comes to Ukraine, but unfortunately this is not my” field, he said.

Escobar said the Western Balkans region has a big economic and trade perspective.

The Western Balkans is the fastest growing part of Europe. It has the potential to be a regional leader for renewable energy, for Juic Natural Gas, for transportation, for technology and almost anything else in the region”, he said.

For this reason, he said the United States supports any co-operation initiative among the countries of the region.