Durres – Without reconciliation and dialogue, there will be no progress, said Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar at the top of the regional Brdo-Brioni initiative hosted in the Albanian city of Durres with her Croatian and Albanian counterparts. She assured the countries of the Western Balkans of Slovenia’s continued support in the EU accession process, which, according to her, should proceed more quickly.
“The countries of the region are building a space for dialogue, trust, and cooperation even when it seems that the differences between us are really large,” Pirc Musar stated, while also warning that “without genuine dialogue, without addressing open issues, and without reconciliation, which may be the toughest nut to crack in our area, there will be no real progress.”
The European perspective of the Western Balkans is, in the opinion of the Slovenian president, the most effective geopolitical tool for ensuring stability, peace, and security. She emphasized that the EU enlargement process must be faster, but without lowering standards, and assured the countries of the Western Balkans of continued support.
“Slovenia supports further steps in the enlargement process… At the same time, we expect progress from the candidates in reforms, especially in the areas of the rule of law, good governance, and human rights,” she said, emphasizing that the EU must also do its part.
The summit of the initiative was hosted by the President of the Republic of Slovenia Pirc Musar together with Albanian President Bajram Begaj and Croatian President Zoran Milanović. Leaders from all Western Balkan countries attended. The Brdo-Brioni process is a joint Slovenian-Croatian initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation among countries in the region. It started in 2010. (October 6)