(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUNE 19 - Albania's and North Macedonia's
prime ministers Edi Rama and Zoran Zaev have warned against the
strengthening of nationalist and populist forces in the Balkans
if their countries are not given the green light by autumn to
start accession negotiations with the European Union.
Yesterday the foreign ministers of the European Union postponed
until October the final decision on negotiations with Skopje and
Tirana. Today the two heads of government said in an interview
with the Financial Times that a failure to integrate the entire
Balkan region could result in damage to the EU itself. According
to the London-based newspaper, despite the positive
recommendation of the European Commission, the opposition of
France and Holland, in particular, might have caused the second
postponement on the negotiations with Skopje and Tirana.
Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov told Le Monde he
believes it is now up to the European Union to show the same
courage that his country showed when it reached the name
agreement with Greece a year ago. The EU, according to Dimitrov,
"must give my country a chance by deciding on the beginning of
accession negotiations. Neither more nor less. We deserve it".
(ANSA).
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