Sofia, 9 May 2022 (MIA) - Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said Monday while visiting Sofia that Vienna hopes EU will open negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia to become members in June. "A different way of life" shouldn't be allowed in the region of the Western Balkans, he added. "Russian interests extend beyond Ukraine, they also include Western Balkan countries," Schallenberg warned. The Austrian head of diplomacy at a meeting with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Teodora Genchovska in Sofia discussed the geo-political situation following the Russian invasion. Bulgaria strongly supports the EU path of the Western Balkan countries, Genchovska told a news conference. Bulgaria, she said, has made significant efforts to promote a positive climate in the bilateral relations with the Republic of North Macedonia "We will continue to work on building genuine good neighborly relations with the Republic of North Macedonia, which is only possible through joint efforts. We expect Skopje to take concrete steps and provide guarantees for permanent implementation of the 2017 Agreement as well as guarantees for the rights of the citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia with Bulgarian self-awareness," Minister Genchovska said. Photo: BTA