Skopje, 7 December 2021 (MIA) – Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov has said that the message of the US Deputy Assistant Secretary Gabriel Escobar is clear – the US priority regarding the Balkans is North Macedonia and Albania to join the EU. The Americans are a key factor in the region and also a key partner of Europe in the context of NATO, according to him. “Of course Washington has influence,” Dimitrov told Slobodna TV’s morning show on Tuesday. “The region has been pretty shaky. Escobar says that here the enlargement instrument is being tested – is it realistic or not,” he said. Dimitrov added that Escobar during the meetings had noted that North Macedonia was a credible partner and that the US could help. “I think we have to learn from the experience, because it is not our fault that we are yet to start negotiating. We have to protect the nation and refrain from spreading false hope. Escobar has said that the stakes are becoming higher. Without negotiations for accession, the message is – it’s no use to solve problems. This is very serious for the region,” explained the top diplomat. First, he added, Bulgaria should form a new government before negotiations are resumed. Asked whether the populist Slavi Trifonov, who has unyielding positions on the dispute with the country, could be appointed at the helm of the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, Dimitrov said there shouldn’t be comments ahead of time. “It’s ungrateful to say anything early, we should talk with the new minister. The good news comes from Skopje. We agree with the opposition that negotiations with the EU should start,” said the Deputy PM. He noted that after Zoran Zaev steps down as prime minister, leaving strong marks throughout the initiative for solving the dispute with Bulgaria, the country’s course will remain the same. “The course will stay the same. Every politician has their own policies. Together with Zaev, we’d climbed the Prespa Agreement mountain. Our country is at crossroads – we’ll do our best to find a dignified end to this hardship that has the potential to change the atmosphere in the whole region. But, unfortunately, I cannot exclude a negative outcome,” stated Deputy PM Dimitrov. Commenting on the possibility of Albania and North Macedonia to be decoupled in the EU integration process, Dimitrov said at this point it was impossible. “We’d waited for Albania during the deadlock in the Dutch Parliament and also the international partners are not in favor of supporting decoupling,” he stated.