Skopje, 23 May 2023 (MIA) - Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani said Tuesday there is a new path emerging for the Western Balkans, primarily related to the geopolitical situation and Ukraine. The FM says it is up to North Macedonia whether it will take that path or isolate itself, staying behind with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, rather than joining Serbia and Montenegro.

FM Osmani met with European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi in Brussels on Monday.

"I believe what Varhelyi said is shared by everyone in Brussels - a new path is definitely emerging for the Western Balkans, primarily related to the geopolitical situation and Ukraine. It is obvious that Ukraine will see a new moment this year regarding its European perspective. That path cannot be enabled while bypassing the Western Balkans. It is in our hands whether we take that path or isolate ourselves. In that case, Albania will join Serbia and Montenegro and we will stay behind with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo," FM Osmani told TV24.

On Sofia's claims of "state-sponsored hate speech", the FM says there is no such thing in North Macedonia and that he would be the first to apologize if evidence of this was found.

"European Union member-states have their embassies here, international organizations have their missions here. If any of these embassies or missions find evidence of state-sponsored discrimination towards any community, including the Bulgarian, I will be the one to apologize. And this coming from a person who himself is not coming from a majority community," notes Osmani.

Photo: MIA archive