President Stevo Pendarovski addressed today the 10th To Be Secure (2BS) forum, organized by the Atlantic Council of Montenegro.
Speaking on the topic “Western Balkans in 10 Years”, President Pendarovski said that in a decade the countries of the Western Balkans can reach the current level of development of the Central European countries only with greater commitment of the EU and the US to the region, through real, not technical assessment of democratization processes and if pro-European forces are in power.
According to President Pendarovski, the best results for democratization and progress of the countries in the region have been achieved with the support and leadership of the Euro-Atlantic community as a whole.
Challenges for the region, President Pendarovski said, remain the rule of law, human rights, media freedom and media independence.
According to President Pendarovski, the positive scenario for the region includes the start of accession negotiations for membership of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Albania in the European Union, acceleration of the accession negotiations between Montenegro and the Republic of Serbia, progress in Belgrade-Pristina talks, and increasing of international efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
I am convinced, President Pendarovski said, that the future of the Balkans will be bright only by rejecting nationalism, which has caused suffering and destruction in the past.
Besides President Pendarovski, the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, addressed the forum’s session.
