Strumica, 16 December 2021 (MIA) – I am not here for you, I’m here for the interests of my country. The interest of my country is stability and prosperity in the Balkans and that is why it is necessary to be not only a member of NATO, but also to be a member of the EU. This has been our goal for years and it shall remain so, said the Dutch Ambassador to North Macedonia, Dirk Jan Kop, after the country did not receive a date for the first intergovernmental conference with the EU.

The Dutch Ambassador believes that the political balance has changed after the local elections, but the problems of the Macedonian society have not changed.

- It is important that the reforms continue. Last year, this country became a member of NATO and in a few years, it will become a member of the European Union. In that direction, there will always be problems along the way, as there is now the problem with Bulgaria. Those problems will be solved. We are always ready to help you solve them. However, what is important is not to have big emotional ups and downs, but to keep working. Implementing reforms is the only way to be at the EU table and have equal voting rights," said Kop.

On Thursday, he attended the event organized by the Planetum Ecological Society in Strumica, which discussed the improvement of the quality of life in the region and the creation of decisions of public interest for the environment. dk/ba/