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The meeting of the regional initiative for open cooperation “Open Balkans” is being held in Belgrade. The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, is the host of the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia, in charge of European Affairs, Nikola Dimitrov.
During his speech at the joint press conference, Prime Minister Edi Rama said that this initiative welcomes all countries that want to unite.
“The Berlin process has remained on the road from one summit to another. Unable to implement what is being said this initiative has been created and is a unit of implementation of the Berlin process by accelerating and at the same time monitoring implementation.
The open Balkans is for everyone and unlike the Berlin Process is not taken hostage by any country. It clearly states that any of the countries does not need to expect others as if we are the caricature of the European Council.
We have redefined for all those who do not want to understand that the Open Balkans is inclusive and belongs to everyone. Neither Albania nor Macedonia nor Serbia will wait for everyone else to be obeyed. The reasons why they are skeptical I have heard the reason of Montenegro and Bosnia and Kosovo.
But I consider them reasons not to reason. You said that the economic interests of these countries appear. Yes, I will definitely be here for the interests of Albania. They are empowered by the Open Balkans, “said Rama.
Rama further stressed that the businesses of Montenegro, Kosovo or Bosnia and Herzegovina will want to join the Open Balkans before their governments.
“In December at the summit in Tirana when we hand over to the entrepreneurs we met today and who have interaction. What we have concluded as an implementation of the Berlin process and when we include them in a green channel I am telling you that the companies from Montenegro from Bosnia and Kosovo will come before their governments are included in the movement network so that there are no problems. As a company, do not be surprised. It is a demand for the economy and for the citizens.
What has been achieved so far?
In the framework of this initiative, the free movement of citizens with ID cards has been established between Serbia, Northern Macedonia and Albania, an agreement has been signed for cooperation in preventing and eliminating the consequences of natural disasters.
Agreements on co-operation in facilitating the import, export and movement of goods in the Western Balkans were also signed, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding and co-operation on free access to the labor market.
It has been agreed between Serbia, Northern Macedonia and Albania that the border controls will be lifted from 1st January 2023. It is also planned to gradually create a common market for 12 million inhabitants, to create a “single economic zone”.
/abcnews.al
