Belgrade, 29 October 2021 (MIA) — The "Open Balkans" initiative is one of the ways in which Serbia and North Macedonia will strengthen the long-standing and traditionally good bilateral ties, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said in an interview with Belgrade's daily Politika. According to MIA’s Belgrade correspondent, Prime Minister Zaev said the two countries' leaders were guided by the principle that improving mutual relations was their responsibility and a priceless treasure to be handed down to generations to come. The "Open Balkans" initiative, he said, was an expression of their commitment to developing the region. “The initiative is a result of the strong political will of North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania, and it's in the highest interest of the three countries, to connect our economies and develop them further as well as to establish a common regional market and develop it in the long term," Zaev said. The prime minister pointed out that the initiative’s clear, open, and public intention was to connect the countries so the people would “feel the direct economic benefits as soon as possible.” According to Zaev, benefits would include millions of households increasing their family budgets and all of the countries' citizens experiencing a better quality of life. Regarding the coronavirus pandemic, Zaev said the solidarity shown by the international community, most notably the EU and the country's closest neighbors, was essential in the critical period before mass vaccination began. “Serbia was the first to give up considerable quantities of its own vaccines so we could weather the period until our country had a regular supply of vaccines. Macedonian citizens will forever remember the hand extended in friendship,” Zaev said, adding that the government’s priority now was to speed up mass vaccination. Regarding EU enlargement and the Bulgarian blockade of the country’s start of EU talks, Zaev said the citizens were disappointed and there was no excuse or justification. “We have no international path other than the path to full EU membership,” Zaev explained. “This process has no alternative, so we remain committed to our strategic goal of EU membership through the full implementation of European values ​​and standards. “On the other hand, the EU has to find a formula to keep its word and continue its enlargement with the Western Balkans. “North Macedonia’s citizens will consider it an enormous failure of the Union’s policies if the European perspective is not delivered to them immediately and if the first intergovernmental conference with the EU is not held by the end of this year.” Zaev also highlighted that the Macedonian people were not creating and had never created problems. “If my people hadn’t been peaceful and open-minded,” he said, “how would we have reached an agreement with Greece?” The benefits of the Prespa Agreement are not to be dismissed, according to Zaev. “We have a new, serious strategic partner. We are a member of NATO, which is very important for a small country like us when it comes to security, safety and foreign investments. “We can and we must, both sides, immediately after the elections in Bulgaria and North Macedonia, as it behooves us, show sincere political will and take decisive steps to resolve the open issues. Both sides have a responsibility to do this,” Zaev told the paper. Commenting on the local elections, he said the country had gone through difficult times “and it was not easy to overcome the obstacles and set the country free from the regime." “One of the consequences of the regime was that the municipalities were completely dependent on the central government,” Zaev said. “In the very first two years, we managed to free the local governments from debt by allocating 50 million euros from the central budget. An additional 500 million euros went to supporting over 7,000 local community projects.” “And we did it,” Zaev said, adding that the government, together with citizens, was building an economically developed country “in which salaries, pensions, and welfare benefits are growing and new jobs are being created, following a clear plan for a better Macedonian and European future." In the Politika interview, North Macedonia’s prime minister also expressed confidence in the country’s democrats uniting ahead of the second round of the local elections and achieving a victory in the runoff on Sunday. “I have urged citizens, all democratic and progressive groups and individuals, to unite, so the development and progress of the municipalities can continue, and with them the country’s progress in general, as well.” He said the ruling coalition was secure and he expected it to grow. “We don’t need new elections,” Zaev told Politika. “After a long time, we finally have 2.5 years ahead of us without elections, which is a rare opportunity. That’s what citizens want and what’s necessary for the economy. “I maintain that this opportunity should be seized and the country, immediately after these elections, should move forward toward higher salaries and pensions and the opening of 150,000 new jobs, as is our plan for the next few years.” mr/