Skopje, 31 March 2023 (MIA) – The QUAD initiative does not aim to exclude or call out any country, but to promote and validate the full alignment of the Western Balkan countries with the EU’s foreign and security policy, a condition that is mandatory for EU membership but one of the harder issues for many countries in the region, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani said on Friday.

“We haven’t signed anything. We have achieved 100% alignment, joining Montenegro and Albania in doing so. The goal was to show to the EU that we can achieve 100% harmonization before we open the chapters. We are factors of trust to the EU, especially in a time of war on our continent. The other countries in the region will also need to achieve this in order to become members. This is a way for us to promote what we have achieved for the EU, and a call for the region to be defined geopolitically in terms of orientation,” FM Osmani told reporters.

Our 100% harmonization in this sphere, he added, confirms that we are a trusted partner of the EU and we are ready for membership.

“Two years ago, we were at 92.6%. Now that we are at 100%, it sends a message to the EU that we are ready. This initiative reflects the factual condition of countries that succeeded to do this in a difficult region, in conditions when there are doubts or dilemmas about the credibility and necessary speed of this process. I hope that all six countries will achieve 100% harmonization soon,” said Osmani.

Two days ago, Minister Osmani promoted a new platform in Skopje called “Western Balkans QUAD – 100% alignment with EU foreign policy”, alongside Albanian counterpart Olta Xhacka, Kosovo Deputy FM Kreshnik Ahmeti and Foreign Policy Advisor of the Montenegro PM, Djordje Radulovic. dk/ik/