Skopje, 7 June 2022 (MIA) – There is no other alternative for the region other than joining the European Union one day. North Macedonia will continue to invest efforts in overcoming differences with Bulgaria but also in meeting EU membership criteria, said Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani in Ankara on Tuesday. “The Republic of North Macedonia started its European path about 20 years ago but unfortunately, despite a 17-year-long active process, the country has still not started the accession negotiations due to various challenges that are not directly related to the EU and meeting of criteria. One of the disputes currently blocking the process is one with the Republic of Bulgaria,” FM Osmani told a joint press conference with Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu. Of course, the FM added, this delay generates discontent and disappointment among the country’s citizens. “We believe this should be a merit-based process, meaning that the ones meeting the criteria move forward. Nevertheless, there is no other alternative for us, since we are geographically located in the EU region, surrounded by member-states. Our economy is 90-percent related to the Union and therefore the only option for the region is to, one day, join the EU. We will continue to invest efforts in this regard, of course by overcoming differences but also by meeting criteria,” said Osmani.