Skopje, 18 December 2024 (MIA) – The European Union is the right pathway. The United Kingdom, which is not longer a member of the EU, strongly and continuously supports the country’s EU integration process. Further delays give space to others, especially Russia, which continues to act in the region on disinformation, Lord Stuart Peach, the United Kingdom’s Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, tells MIA.

MIA interviewed Peach yesterday during his recent trip to Skopje. In the interview, the British envoy talked about the country’s EU accession path after the Ukraine war has accelerated the EU integration process of Ukraine and Moldova, Albania has opened negotiations to join all the while North Macedonia has become deadlocked. Asked whether Brussels might accept the Macedonian government’s request for delayed constitutional changes as a way to avoid another Bulgarian veto, which isn’t related to the Copenhagen criteria, but with bilateral issues, Peach falls short of giving a concrete answer saying that that EU accession is a policy the United Kingdom supports. 

“The method and the process is very much between the European Union, the UK as you know is longer a member, but it’s important that we continue on the Euro-Atlantic pathway which of course embraces the NATO Alliance. And there are solutions, frameworks and agreements both the UK, you mentioned them earlier, Ohrid and Prespa, and we support them. I have been coming to your beautiful country for 25 years, I know this is a long journey, I know people have waited a long time, I understand that. Many of my friends here have made that clear to me. And so, it is about patience and it’s also about the leaders here demonstrating this European Union pathway, is the right way, it’s the obvious pathway, because we are here in the heart of Europe. And it’s important the young people in particular feel that pathway is moving so they have a better and prosperous future. Further delays give space for others. I would mention specifically Russia. Russia continues to act in the region, on disinformation; Russia has launched and continues the horrible illegal war in Europe. Isn’t that far from where we are sitting today. So, we need to be serous in our understanding of the fact that Russia continues disinformation through the media. In my country, Russia continues to destabilize, Russia continues to undertake acts of sabotage as well as espionage. And so, the alternative, the better way, the pathway is the European Union and we will do everything we can to support that,” notes Peach. 

During his Skopje visit, Peach met with President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and Defense Minister Vlado Misajlovski. As he said, he congratulated the government on its ambitious agenda, adding there is a real opportunity now for relations between the United Kingdom and North Macedonia to become even closer. 

“We have expertise, and infrastructure in energy, and we discussed such issues with the government. We, as a country, are also committed to our own energy transformation agenda, so these agendas we have are mutually beneficial for both strong partners,” he states. 

Peach, a pundit on regional issues, had served as commander of the NATO air forces in Kosovo in 2000. Asked to comment on destabilization attempts, pointed out recently by PM Mickoski as a way DUI to act after going into opposition in May and whether this month’s Constitutional Court session convened to assess the constitutionality of the language law – which came under fire by DUI – could reintroduce the ethnic card as a way for scoring political points, Peach said people in the region should look forward to joint prosperous future regardless of ethnic background and history. 

“It is very clear that North Macedonia and all the people in the region need to look forward to a prosperous free future together regardless of ethnic group and history. So, we need to look together to a stable society for all citizens and UK has a strong partner in North Macedonia for over 30 years, it has played a very strong role in those agreements to support them. And I think the most important message that I can offer is that these are values that we share for now and the future, whether is the rule of law, respect for institutions, respect for each other and human rights. And all citizens of North Macedonia believe in that, I know that, and nobody wants the opposite of stability. We see from the illegal war in Ukraine, we see from the conflict in Middle East what happens when stability fails. So, of course, I personally, we as an embassy and the team here, we strongly support stability and equal values for all citizens, regardless of ethnic group,” he says.

Regarding the police operation to bust an ISIS-linked terrorist group, which had planned attacks in the country and in the region, according to Interior Minister Panche Toshkosvki, and asked to assess the security in the region in general, the British diplomat, who had also served as Chief of the General Staff of the United Kingdom Army and chairman of the NATO Military Committee, says it is important to defend democracy together.

“I have an emotional link to your country, to many of my friends here, from my role in NATO where I supported your accession into the Alliance. It’s almost five years ago, and I think the membership of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation for all the citizens of North Macedonia has brought that sense of shared collective security to the people. I also commend the armed forces of North Macedonia both for their contribution to our collective security alliance, NATO, and the modernisation. I do commend the armed forces for that journey. There is also very interesting, an important link between any armed forces under political control and the police actions that are necessary to keep everyone safe and secure whether it is in the UK or any other NATO ally. I am not here to comment on individual cases and on individual issues. The stability in the region is underpinned by our shared values in NATO and is underpinned by our ability to cooperate on security issues. And security is part of this fabric for society, which keeps stability, which is the theme what we are discussing. And stability has to be maintained with law and order, and whether it’s border security or it’s police actions or it’s the various attempts of the state to bring and sustain law and order, that is all part of stability, which is part of people’s prosperity and confidence for the future and the most important message is the confidence in the future for all citizens,” notes Peach.

In the interview, Peach also talked about corruption and its consequences, the latest State Lottery case, which involves high corruption, and the efficiency of U.S. designations, after the U.S. Department of State designated former deputy premier Artan Grubi and an appellate judge for ‘significant corruption.’

Corruption worsens security, he stresses, adding that low public trust in the judiciary in the country is concerning. According to Peach, the British embassy will continue to support strengthening of rule of law in the country. 

“It is for the U.S. government, their sovereign government to decide on their own sanctions, but the UK will continue to support anything to tackle corruption, across the region, not just here, in North Macedonia. We will take action, if we deem it appropriate. It’s also important that our embassy team here in Skopje in North Macedonia, they work with rule of law projects with key officials and importantly, the Academy of Judges, to introduce new processes and help each other to understand the world. We are really serious about anti-corruption, as a way of bringing again this theme of stability and prosperity for all citizens,” he says.

After Donald Trump was re-elected as President of the United States in November, Peach said his country will continue to invest in the relations with the U.S., calling them very close. Asked to comment on Trump’s statement that he could end the conflict in Ukraine in 24 hours, the British former military official said he wouldn’t speculate on his policies, noting it is important to understand the consequences from the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East. 

On whether peace talks are possible this winter, as announced by PM Donald Tusk, whose country, Poland, will take over the EU presidency on January 1, Peach said peace talks are always possible. Highlighting cooperation within NATO, he congratulated former defense minister Radmila Shekerinska on being named NATO deputy secretary general.

“I think the message is simple - we need to work with our partners, such as North Macedonia as a NATO ally, and be ready to tackle this dangerous world. And I particularly wish to commend the former defence minister of North Macedonia now taking her role as deputy secretary general of NATO. This is the time we should work together on collective security,” Peach tells MIA. 

On the impact these peace talks may have on the region and the consequences from the prolonged conflict, Peach stresses that the defense of North Macedonia within the Alliance and the defense of the United Kingdom starts in Ukraine.

“President Putin has chosen to launch an illegal war, it’s a serious violation of the international law and the UN charter, and that should matter to everyone. And we stand united in our alliance and through our values, and we cannot allow President Putin to succeed. UK continues to deliver military aid to the Ukrainians and many other forms of diplomatic, financial and political support. And we also stand up for our values around the rule of law, so we are continuing to support the special tribunal for the crimes of aggression. The sanctions imposed on Russia are important, they may not be important to the daily lives here, but they are very important to show Russia what happens if your break international law and you pursue an illegal war. So, my message is simple, we have to help defend Ukraine, we have to continue to help Ukraine, and make sure that Ukrainians have a bright future for themselves,” says Peach.

On latest developments in Syria after the fall of the Asad regime and how it might impact the Middle East and the world as a whole, the retired British military official says it is very early to say what’s going to happen.

“I would be very cautious about speculating. It’s an important country, right at the heart of the Middle East region. The Syrian people again have suffered terrible tragedy of the civil war for over a decade and many, many, many Syrians have been displaced. So, they’re all be watching carefully and keenly what is happening in their country and it’s for them to decide. We, the UK, will continue to do our best through the United Nations to support both the humanitarian situation and, as a theme of this whole interview, to uphold our values. If I have a message, it is simply that in this dangerous world we need to ensure stability for all people in North Macedonia whatever age, and for whatever future you have. We have the same message in the UK, we are stronger together throughout our alliance and throughout our friendships, we continue to successfully work bilaterally between United Kingdom and North Macedonia and will continue to do so for an ever stronger partnership,” Peach concludes in his interview with MIA. 

Below is a video of Lord Stuart Peach's MIA interview

Journalist: Ana Cvetkoska

Photo: Frosina Naskovikj

Video/edit: Asllan Vishko and Vladimir Rabasovikj

Translation and transcript: MIA's English service