ANTALYA, Türkiye, April 12. Timcho Mucunski,
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia,
urged an accelerated path for the Western Balkans to join the
European Union, emphasizing the need for solidarity, merit-based
cooperation, and the resolution of political volatility, Trend reports.
His remarks came during his speech at the Antalya Diplomacy
Forum, where he addressed the key challenges facing the region and
highlighted the importance of regional unity.
Mucunski began by recalling a recent national tragedy in
Kocheny, where 61 people, mostly young individuals, lost their
lives. He expressed profound gratitude for the swift response from
Türkiye, particularly the Turkish government, medical personnel,
and citizens who provided assistance during the crisis.
“When times get tough, these are the friends you call,” Mucunski
stated, referring to the solidarity his country received from
Turkey and other European nations, despite past political
challenges. He thanked Türkiye’s government, doctors, nurses, and
the people of Türkiye for their ongoing support.
Addressing the political challenges of the Western Balkans,
Mucunski pointed out that bilateralization – the practice of
countries prioritizing individual agreements over regional
cooperation – is a significant obstacle. He stressed that the
region needs to establish mechanisms that shield it from political
instability and ensure progress through rules-based and merit-based
cooperation.
“We need to anchor ourselves in rules-based and merit-based
cooperation,” he urged. “If we cannot insulate ourselves from
political volatility, our future is at risk.”
Mucunski emphasized that EU candidate countries in the region,
including North Macedonia, have suffered from the effects of
bilateralization. He warned that allowing this practice to continue
would harm the collective progress of the region. Furthermore, he
advocated for the need for transparency in political
decision-making and the importance of openly addressing
shortcomings when striving for EU membership.
“We need to speak very openly and establish a system where we
advance based on merit and rules,” Mučunski said.
The Foreign Minister also cited the example of Ireland and the
United Kingdom, two countries that overcame historical tensions and
worked together as EU members, demonstrating the success of EU
integration in overcoming long-standing conflicts. He called on the
Western Balkans to adopt a similar approach to unity and
cooperation.
“Let’s use these positive examples,” Mučunski concluded,
advocating for a collective effort to advance the region’s EU
integration and ensuring a stable and prosperous future for the
Western Balkans.