The Balkan region must grow up fast before young generations gives up and decides on its own to go to Europe, Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov said Saturday at the 12th annual international conference Dubrovnik Forum, entitled ‘Adriatic-Mediterranean Cooperation and Security in Southeast Europe’.
The migrant crisis, he said, has thought us that no country is capable to deal alone with serious challenges, which require coordinated actions, joint responses and in particular preventive measures.
‘We have also learned significant lessons at home after the political crisis in Macedonia. Stability, democracy and rule of law come in one package. A state cannot enjoy a long-term stability if it has fragile institutions. The stability comes with strong institutions, rule of law, independent judiciary, economic prosperity, free media. The new reform Government is working hard to bring the country back to the road to Europe,’ Dimitrov said.
Addressing the conference, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Hoyt Yee qualified the 27 April incident in Macedonia’s Parliament as the worst and the formation of new reform government as the best event in the Balkan region!
As in previous years, the Dubrovnik Forum covered current international affairs topics. This year’s Dubrovnik Forum focused on the Adriatic-Mediterranean Area, which is, geographically, a meeting point and the crossroads of Middle East, North Africa and Europe. It also tackled the common challenges of security and stability in the Mediterranean and neighboring areas through strengthening of cooperation and fostering dialogue, while, at the same time, addressing the opportunities for concrete and future actions. The event also put emphasis on the developing business opportunities in the Eastern Mediterranean region, as well as on the intercultural dialogue, underlining youth’s mobility and education.
At the event’s sidelines Dimitrov had a meeting with Yee, who reaffirmed the US support of Macedonia’s integration with the European Union and NATO, the Ministry of Foreign affairs said in a press release.
