Skopje, 19 October 2023 (MIA) - Ambassador of The Netherlands, Dirk Jan Kop, said Thursday there is no political will for change in the country, not only in politics but also among religious communities, "which block change and the Istanbul Convention".

"All other countries have managed to make the required changes and join the EU in a period of 10-15 years. What are you doing besides pilling up excuses to meet the membership requirements? Why didn't you finish the reforms 15 years ago as these countries? I hear that the European Union is to blame, that membership is a joint responsibility and that we have left you waiting for too long. After decades of enormous support, where have our taxpayers' money gone? After all these years, there is a strategy for everything, two action plans for everything, everyone's awareness has tripled and everyone has been trained four times. And yet, everything is stuck because of lack of implementation, corruption and nepotism. In simple words, there is no real political will for change, not only in politics but also among religious communities, which block change and block the Istanbul Convention. Politicians are silent and want to take photos with priests and imams. And what is the message you send to us: we want your money but not your values," Ambassador Kop told the second regional expert meeting on Cluster 1: Fundamentals" within project "Let Justice Rule the Region".

The Ambassador stressed that the Netherlands was and will continue to be a partner of the region and its path towards the EU.

Kop noted that the situation in the judiciary "has left us with no other option than to reevaluate our support".

"Nevertheless, despite everything, the region has no other option but to move towards the EU. The alternative to this is having a group of poor countries in about 20 years from now, with empty villages and old people, because the others have emigrated. The signs are here. The present geopolitical context is complex to say the least, but its relatively small impact on the region cannot be used again as an excuse not to move forward. Moving forward can be achieved only through rule of law, democracy and observance of human rights," he said.

According to him, Netherlands placed large emphasis on the rule of law, since this is the foundation of all democracies. This includes an understanding of the citizens' rights, balance between their unalienable rights and freedoms, and the obligations and clear rules that restrict the jurisdiction of authorities and equally treating all people. This requires stable institutions, because they represent the skeleton of the state, not the individual corrupt bosses.

"Netherlands is not a big country, it has 18 million people, roughly the same size as the population in the Western Balkans. The thing that protects small countries is not their size or military might, but international law and human rights. The name of this project reminded me of an old Latin saying 'Let justice be done though the heavens fall'. These words are relevant today and deeply engraved in the culture of western civilizations. It means that justice must be done regardless of the price. It also means that implementation of the principles of justice must be fair and objective, and that equals should be treated equally.  No one should be above the law, in The Netherlands, in North Macedonia, in Serbia, in Albania, everywhere. It means that people should be able to trust the law and trust their institutions," said Kop.

In the EU context, he added, this means that member-states should trust their respective structures and processes, and the Union has managed to do this.

"A various group of countries have created a single market that ensured a common standard of life and we are now increasing the cooperation in other areas as well. Support and solidarity was not always easy, especially regarding the rule of law. However, despite the challenges we are facing on a daily basis, there are rules that we have jointly adopted and mechanisms and ensure the implementation of those rules. Although the system is not perfect, it makes us stronger and safer. This is the future we want for the Western Balkans - safe, stable and prosperous in the EU. But, you are the ones who are responsible to get there," underlined Ambassador Kop.

Photo: MIA archive