Interview of HRVP Mogherini for MIA

The Prespa Agreement is a unique opportunity for reconciliation and closure of the two-decade long dispute between Skopje and Athens and this opportunity may never be repeated, stated the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in an interview with MIA.

Tomorrow it will be known if there is a required majority in the Macedonian Parliament on the implementation of the Prespa Agreement. What is your message at this moment?

– I had the privilege to attend the event of signing of the Agreement between Prime Ministers Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev in June at the Prespa Lake. Both sides have demonstrated political courage, leadership, responsibility and have tirelessly worked on bridging over the differences and outstanding issues in order to reach this historic agreement on which Europe as a whole has commended.  

Now there are national procedures for the agreement implementation taking place on the part of both sides and this is something that should be vouchsafed and recognized. I can understand the sensitivity and the complex historical background of the dispute as well as the expressed concerns. The dispute has not without reason been so long in existence, and as we could see in the past, the longer it took the harder it was to find solutions. The negotiation process must have been a painful one and the result is a compromise. It is, however, a compromise whereby the key interests of both sides are successfully met.  Our position is clear: The EU is fully supporting the reached agreement.  This is a unique opportunity for reconciliation of the Western Balkans and it may never be repeated. I hope that all parties will seize the momentum and will secure the future of the country in the EU, future which the whole nation has been hoping for years to come true.  

Does a positive result mean acceleration of the enlargement process??

– Reconciliation, regional cooperation and the good neighborly relations play key role in our engagement in the Western Balkans and are a key principle of the enlargement process, so the resolution of such a hard dispute is of tremendous import for the region and an opportunity for advancement on the way towards the EU.  If this momentum is wisely used to advance the required reforms, then there will be a significant progress ahead us. The Member States opened up the way for opening the negotiations in June last year based on clear conditions. This is a part of our reinforced engagement in the region which is in the interest of all, both the Member States and the region.

Will the passing on the Agreement bring about more stability in the region?

The reached historic agreement may contribute to the transformation of the entire region of the Western Balkans. Cherishing the good neighbourly relations helps us work together on coping with many of the challenges and opportunities that we share, including those in areas such as migration. The refugee crisis showed that wars that break out far from Brussels or Skopje may have, sooner or later, impact on Europe. The Western Balkans are the heart of Europe, we are interdependent. I believe that together we can achieve a lot for the prosperity, security and stability of our nations.