Struga, 15 June 2023 (MIA) - Every big conflict is difficult on its own way, but every solution shares one characteristic - domestic political will, finding the right actors that are actually willing to change the status quo and in that sense the big lesson from the Prespa Agreement is that we don't elect politicians to serve as expensive mirrors, but expect that the politicians will really look beyond what is currently the mood in the country hopefully with a view of the future, former defense minister Radmila Shekerinska told Thursday's panel "Road to Prespa: Lessons Learnt and Propserity" held as part of the Prespa Forum Dialogue in Struga.  

"Today, no one says they will try to nullify the Prespa Agreement. I haven't seen one, neither here in North Macedonia nor in Greece. And that's the big proof for the success of the Prespa Agreement. Even those that have been the harsh critics are now silent," said Shekerinska. 

She noted that the Prespa Agreement has reminded us that it is the peacemakers who make peace, more often than the autocrats and the nationalists, and that even in spite of some public resistance initially, the public can see that there are benefits, especially today when security is back on the agenda. 

"I don't think that too many people think about what would have happened in North Macedonia if we had not secured ourselves as a NATO member state. And this would have been impossible without the Prespa Agreement, former minister Shekerinska said, adding that for the Prespa Agreement to be alive and kicking, we do need the EU context.  

DUI leader Ali Ahmeti told the panel that the success of the Prespa Agreement came as a result of the communication, cooperation and support together with the international community, i.e. Brussels and Washington as builders of the peace. 

"We have set goals, and our first goal was the peace, stability and security for our country. Our next goal was zero problems with the neighbors and how we shall integrate and start communicating with the countries that are democratic, not with the countries that are led by autocrats. We committed to building a country and the rule of law, and we achieved this. I believe that this achievement has to be shared with the international community," Ahmeti pointed out. 

Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia at the European External Action Service (EEAS), Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst, mentioning highlights that can be looked back on, said the Prespa Agreement was signed as a result of very strong will and possibly very high political cost. 

"Strategically taking the countries forward, on both sides, and so much courage was necessary, because in every successful agreement you see it's really because the leaders wanted and are ready to pay the price for it. We saw all the negative vibes coming around when it was clear that the leaders wanted to start the negotiations. I mentioned Russia, and I will say it here - Russia was definitely, absolutely not in favor of seeing anything possible on the ground in terms of the progress of this country. And despite all their attempts made to sabotage, it did not work, and why did it not work - because there was unity," said Eichhorst.   

According to her, we also see today how important unity is and standing together for the same cause, and the timing is crucial. 

"It's quite important that the leaders make a political decision, and for us in the European Union widening Europe is no longer about a myth, it's really about how to do it and how to move as fast as possible and most efficient as possible because this is what we have been waiting for for too long now," Eichhorst pointed out. 

Photo: MIA