The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, and the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Dritan Abazovi., Exchanged views on the regional initiative "Open Balkans".

During a panel discussion at the Southeast European Democracy Summit in Montenegro, Abazovic said on May 30th that part of Montenegrin society opposes the "Open Balkans" because of Serbia's role in the initiative. .

Earlier, the Montenegrin leader had stated that he would attend the next "Open Balkans" meeting to be held in Ohrid, Northern Macedonia, facing widespread criticism.

"In my opinion, a part of the Montenegrin society opposes [the 'Open Balkans'], just because it is against everything that Serbia is.

"They do not have a problem with the initiative, but they have a personal problem," said Abazovic, adding that, in his opinion, "personal problems in politics often do not provide the opportunity for any kind of vision."

"I am not committed to the 'Open Balkans' or the Berlin Process or any other initiative.

I am committed to regional cooperation.

"Any initiative aimed at regional co-operation, everything we can use for co-operation, is a success," Abazovic said.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani reacted to Abazovic's comment.

"Is anyone a democratically elected leader who believes in the values ​​of the rule of law, human rights and democracy, and is anyone a former minister of propaganda for the regime of [former Yugoslav leader Slobodan] Milosevic?" , this should matter.

"On the contrary, the message we are sending is that it does not matter whether you are [President of Ukraine, Volodymyr] Zelensky or [President of Russia, Vladimir] Putin," Osmani said.

Kosovo opposes the "Open Balkans" initiative, insisting that Kosovo should be represented as an equal, that is, as an independent state within any process, including the "Open Balkans" initiative.

Osmani added that "if we do not learn this lesson from the past, we will not be able to walk the right path at a time when we are facing the war in Ukraine."

Osmani stressed that Kosovo is committed to regional cooperation, but that Kosovo's disagreement with the "Open Balkans" initiative must be respected, because, as Osmani said, this country has shown its commitment "to do everything that is necessary for regional cooperation to work ”.

"We have extended our hand of cooperation to the country that committed genocide against us, without apologizing, without seeing any remorse on their part, without criminals behind bars or brought to justice, without having about 2,000 missing in the war, a country sleeping on mass graves.

"How can we show more than in this way extend the hand of friendship and cooperation?"

Abazovic, responding to Osman, stated that no one is in a position to elect a government in another country.

"How is it possible that you will most likely sit in the Berlin Process with the same people, who unfortunately do not recognize Kosovo, while Ohrid [where the next 'Open Balkans' meeting will be held] is a problem?"

"This is what I do not understand," said Abazovic.

According to Abazovic, the only goal of his country in foreign policy is full membership in the EU and does not seek alternatives for this goal, as he said that at the meeting "Open Balkans", which will be held on June 7 and 8, will attend as a guest.

The "Open Balkans" initiative is a continuation of the Balkan "mini-Schengen", presented in Novi Sad, Serbia on October 10, 2019, by the leaders of Serbia, Northern Macedonia and Albania.

When the "Open Balkans" initiative was introduced, then Montenegro with the Government of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), refused to participate in this regional initiative.

However, the new Prime Minister, Abazovic, supports the concept of this initiative.

Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina do not support this initiative./REL