Skopje, 2 December 2023 (MIA) - Nations get to choose their own pathway. NATO and the EU are not expansionist organizations. Russia too quickly seeks to paint that people wanting to join NATO or the EU as some sort of Western expansionist agenda. It’s not. People want to be on an Euro-Atlantic trajectory because they believe in freedom, sovereignty, territorial integrity, democracy, all the things that are embodied in Western organizations like the EU and NATO, said James Heappey, Minister of State for the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom, during an interview with MIA. Our conversation took place on the sidelines of the 30th Ministerial Council of the OSCE, held in Skopje from November 30 to December 1.

Asked whether the delayed EU integration of the Western Balkans’ countries could create room for possible destabilization and influences from third parties, Heappey stated that despite the United Kingdom no longer being part of the EU after Brexit, it fully supports countries that have that ambition.

Below is the full interview with the Minister of State for the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom, James Heappey.

Mr. Heappey, we are here for the OSCE summit. Skopje is set to host what is said to be a historic summit, considering the Russian blockade of the organization’s functioning due to the war in Ukraine. What is your impression of the ongoing discussions?

Firstly, my congratulations to the government here for their chairmanship this year and for organizing a successful summit. It’s not easy, given the geopolitical tensions that will inevitable affect the organization and the choreography of a conference like this. But the OSCE is almost the one remaining organization within Europe in which we discuss security, at which Russia is still invited. In that sense, this is a hugely important forum. The great shame is that even though this is the one remaining forum in which we can still try to do business in the wider interest of security cooperation in Europe, Russia seems determined to hold things to ransom and undermine the organization, but further testament to the success of your government in making things work nonetheless.

Do you see the presence of the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs here as opportunity or otherwise, because some countries – the Baltic states, Ukraine and Poland – boycotted the summit because of this?

It’s neither an opportunity or not. I certainly have no intention of seeking him out for a conversation and I suspect that most of my colleagues from allied and partner nations around the wider European community will feel the same. The reality is that in coming, he gets to hear first-hand the breath of condemnation for the way that Russia is acting in Ukraine and the way that Russia is treating this organization, and that’s it. For the countries that express their concerns about his presence, I think that’s perfectly understandable. The view of the UK government is that this is a forum that remains as the one opportunity to engage in that sense, and that’s why we are here. The fact that the Russians are here is for other countries to make their own judgments.

The coming OSCE presidency was problematic until consensus was reached for Malta to be the next chair-country. In your opinion, do you expect Moscow to produce other blockades, regarding the organization’s budget or appointment of the leadership?

A concern of exactly those issues is common in all of the speeches that the ministers and ambassadors are currently giving in the conference. Clearly, there is great nervousness that Russia is seeking to undermine this organization and it mustn’t be allowed to do so. One might argue that it is success of sorts that an agreement has been made that Malta should lead the OSCE next year. They will do so brilliantly, they are a fantastic nation and they step up at short notice with all of our support. But that doesn’t mean that we weren’t similarly enthusiastic about Estonia’s leadership and we feel it’s very regretful that that has been blocked and therefore an alternative was needed in the first place.

The war in Ukraine is still ongoing, a new conflict has broken out in the Middle East. Is there a chance for conflicts to spill over to other parts of the world, especially Europe and Western Balkans?

There is a great maxim in all foreign security and defense policy that you take your eye off the Western Balkans at your peril and at times of high geopolitical tensions you can see how rivalries and disagreements that exist in this region could be catalyzed. My instinct is that neither the war in Ukraine nor what is happening in Gaza directly inflame or catalyze the tensions that we’ve seen both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo over recent months and I think this is a product of other things. Of course, the UK and other allies and partners have been quick to support our friends and partners in the region and will continue to do so.

NATO serves as protection for the region, especially countries that are NATO members such as North Macedonia, which is however not a member of the EU. Could the delayed EU integration of the Western Balkans’ countries create room for possible destabilization and influences from third parties?

There is really important point here. Nations get to choose their own pathway. NATO and the EU are not expansionist organizations. Russia too quickly seeks to paint that people wanting to join NATO or the EU as some sort of Western expansionist agenda. It’s not. People want to be on an Euro-Atlantic trajectory because they believe in freedom, sovereignty, territorial integrity, democracy, all the things that are embodied in Western organizations like the EU and NATO. Therefore, I think it’s hugely important that those who want to be on the Euro-Atlantic pathway are supported in doing so. When it comes to the EU, the UK a few years ago lost its say, but I can fully understand why countries aspire to join the European Union and whilst we no longer have a seat on the table and therefore vote on this matter, we completely support countries that have that ambition.

UK and North Macedonia will soon mark 30 years of bilateral relations. British support for the Macedonian Army and meeting of NATO standards is well-known. What plans do you have to enhance that cooperation?

First of all, I want to pay tribute to the Macedonian armed forces and the role that North Macedonia has played as part of the donor community supporting Ukraine. There are countries with massive military inventories and huge GDP, and we have put our hands in our pockets and reached into our stockpiles and military inventories to send things in Ukraine. They often catch the headlines because they are the big donations. But when smaller militaries also reach, every bit as deep into their stockpiles and inventories and send stuff through, that is no less remarkable, in fact arguably it’s more remarkable. I think your country should take enormous pride in the way that it has stood up alongside the rest of the donor community to support Ukraine when they’ve needed us. That does not surprise me. All of the experience that the British military have had in working with your nation’s military has been incredibly positive and encouraging, and there is huge respect for the way in which the Macedonian armed forces do their business. I am seeking to see that continue. Only recently, there have been Macedonian troops at the UK’s infantry battle school, last week your chief of defense was in the UK. We are constantly talking about what more we can do to support you in developing the capabilities that you declare to NATO, and in becoming the stable and strong country, with the moral compass set exactly where it should be, willing to support friends and allies. You are in a region that is under some pressure, where there are tensions, and the more we can support you, the more I think there can be a stabilizing effect across the whole region. This is a very important direction of travel for the UK and its work with North Macedonia over the next few years.

What is your assessment of the country in terms of its compliance with NATO standards, given your support in meeting these criteria?

Everything I’ve heard has been hugely encouraging. The journey of your light battle group is progressing very well indeed, and it will provide a very valuable contribution to NATO forces, and that you’ll take your place within the Alliance not as a token gesture but as a well-respected, well-regarded, meaningful military contribution. That is to the enormous credit of those in the Macedonian armed forces who have working so hard to deliver that capability, and it’s our great honor to have been part of that journey too.

Ana Cvetkovska

Photo: Darko Popov

Video and editing: Aslan Vishko and Srgjan Krstikj