Strasbourg, 30 September 2021 (MIA) – We have a lot to say and we have strong arguments. In fact, it’s EU’s turn to deliver. So, the region needs a clear promise from the EU-Western Balkans Summit about its European future, Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov has said. Referring to his address Thursday at the Autumn Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Dimitrov said that it’s been a long time since PACE has discussed the Balkans. The timing is excellent, he told MIA’s Strasbourg correspondent, adding he expected the debate to result in large support of the 47 member countries regarding the European future of the Balkans. “Things are not good and they need to get better. I tried through the Macedonian story, being the most drastic, to tell the 27 EU member countries why the process has to move forward and to present arguments for the whole Balkans and why it is so important for EU to keep its promise. The promise was made 18 years ago. I held a moment of silence for 16 seconds to symbolize the 16 years the Macedonian people had wasted waiting to start the process,” Deputy PM Dimitrov said adding he had held several talks on the sidelines. On his direct remarks about Bulgaria’s blockade of the country’s EU integration process, he reiterated that when neighbors meddle in what kind of language someone is speaking, it’s neither European nor in the spirit of good neighborliness. “We speak Macedonian, it’s a matter for us, for Macedonians. I had to bring it up. I’m also convinced that our fight for the Macedonian identity is also a fight for the European identity. I called for leadership. It is in our interest and in the interest of Bulgaria for us to settle this in European manner,” said Dimitrov. Asked to comment on Bulgaria’s accusations that North Macedonia is allegedly discriminating people who want to declare as Bulgarian, he noted that his country has had a long tradition of tolerance of diversity. “Why some Bulgarian politicians have been promoting this strongly at this particular moment, it is their business. But I think it’s of no use because in our Macedonia we have strong guarantees that we are all equal before the law regardless of one’s ethnic origin,” Dimitrov said. On non-papers involving suspension of visa liberalization and alleged lack of clear perspectives for the countries in the region, the message from the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Slovenia next month will be key. “Today’s PACE debate is useful signal toward the EU from 47 Council of Europe members, including EU members, that it is very hard to think of the future of the Balkans without European promise. Things are not simple, but more determination, more leadership is required in some European capitals. It depends on the declaration of the EU-Western Balkans Summit if we’re going to succeed. The region needs clear promise about its European future from that declaration,” Deputy PM Dimitrov said.