Cetinje, 12 April 2022 (MIA) – President Stevo Pendarovski said Tuesday there is nothing disputable in Edi Rama’s remarks after the Albanian Prime Minister has stated that his country could push for decoupling from North Macedonia if the Bulgarian blockade wasn’t lifted. “If we remain blocked by Bulgaria on our path to EU membership, it is only logical that other EU hopefuls would refuse to be tied with anyone else on their way to the EU, including with us. If the EU wants to be a geo-strategic project, the whole region should find its place in the bloc as soon as possible,” Pendarovski told a news conference in the Montenegrin city of Cetinje alongside his host, Montenegrin President Milo Đukanović. Both North Macedonia and Albania, he recalled, have been treated in a package by Brussels in the past 2,5 years despite the EU integration process being a merit-based procedure. Although any possible decoupling of the countries in June would not cause any security implications, Pendarovski said, EU decision-makers should act in light of the latest developments in Ukraine being reminded that the EU after all is a geo-political and geo-strategic project. “It is not Brussels that should be blamed entirely, surely our countries should do a lot more, but the decision makers in Brussels should ask themselves – why Serbia and Montenegro have made no progress despite negotiating with the EU for almost a decade, why Albania and North Macedonia cannot start negotiating and why other two countries in the Western Balkans, namely Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, have been absolutely forgotten,” Pendarovski wondered when answering questions at the news conference Speaking at the news conference, Đukanović said that a positive momentum can be recognized in the Skopje-Sofia relations following the formation of a new government in Bulgaria. He added he was optimistic that the blockade could be lifted during the French six-month EU presidency. According to him, there are countries that promote anti-European platform aiming to threaten European unity, the European system of values and the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries. “This has to motivate the EU, especially the EU countries that are neighboring with our countries. I would expect Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania to serve as the main promoters of the Western Balkans’ European perspective. I hope the EU after the attack of Ukraine would seize the geopolitical importance of admitting the Western Balkan countries and North Macedonia and Montenegro would seize the opportunity,” the Montenegrin leader stated. When asked about the results of the 2021 census and possible inclusion of the Montenegrin minority into North Macedonia’s Constitution, Pendarovski said the Macedonian society and nation is in line with the best European policies and practices. “Whether there are 1,200 Montenegrins, 2,000 Croats and 3,500 Bulgarians – numbers are irrelevant, the values and principles we believe in is what matters,” he stated. Asked about Serbia buying weapons for its army, President Pendarovski said that Serbia, a non-NATO member, poses no security threat to NATO member North Macedonia. Montenegro’s Đukanović said that unfortunately the security aspect in the Balkans is not on the same level as in much of Europe. “In general, it [Serbia’s military buildup] is concerning us,” he noted. As part of his two-day official visit to Montenegro, President Pendarovski also met with outgoing Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić, as well as with Deputy Prime Minister and premier-designate Dritan Abazović. In addition, the Montenegrin city of Bar will host a ceremony on Wednesday, during which President Pendarovski will hand over a memorial plaque of Vladimir and Kosara to his Montenegrin counterpart Đukanović as a sign of the strong friendship and cultural and historical ties between North Macedonia and Montenegro.