Journalist question: Madam President, today you had a meeting with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres. We have information from the United Nations that we have received strong support from Mr. Guterres. Please comment on the meeting and specifically on the support.
Siljanovska-Davkova: The meeting was not of an open nature, but both ministers were present with me – the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of European Integration. Mr. Guterres expressed full solidarity with us and full support and linked both of them to our democratic steps, especially to the ability to manage interethnic relations. He said that he stands behind us and that he will repeat this everywhere. Of course, it is good to hear such a position and to receive support from the head of the United Nations, because of his rich diplomatic experience, in which we have also been included as a country that, when faced with problems, found itself on the agenda of his agenda.
Journalist question: In your speeches, you say that what the United Nations is for the world, the European Union is for Europe. You had a meeting with Ms. Kallas and colleagues from Europe and the Western Balkans. How do you comment on the double standards that the European Union manifests, specifically when it comes to small countries like ours?
Siljanovska-Davkova: You have heard me comment on double standards even last year, I pointed out that we need to put an end to double standards, because that is not a European manner, it is not a European practice, it should not be a European practice. So, for me it is anti-European behavior, but it is constantly practiced in the European Union. Of course, I pointed out this problem today with Ms. Kallas, but I warned that the problem will not stop with us, that it is already looming in terms of Moldova and Ukraine, and that the EU is not just a question of enlargement, but that the entry of the Western Balkans or the reintegration of the Western Balkans into Europe, or currently into the EU, where geographically, historically and culturally it has belonged for centuries, will be a very important remedy for the security dilemmas that are already emerging. They are on the move. Of course, as always, I said that in difficult moments the European Union has managed to be very creative and perhaps the challenge is now great. I also said that it is important for the Western Balkans, although I still do not know what this phrase means, to be honest, to perceive it as a whole and that if there is a gap in the progress between the countries of the Western Balkans, that this could cause additional divisions instead of unification.
