Skopje, 10 February 2024 (MIA) — President Stevo Pendarovski addressed Friday evening a traditional annual reception for diplomatic corps representatives in the country, thanking them for their contribution to promoting good relations between North Macedonia and their countries.

He said 2023 was important for the country, which had held the OSCE Chairpersonship and organized the final OSCE ministerial meeting as well hosted a summit of Brdo-Brioni presidents, an Adriatic Charter meeting, and a Belgrade-Prishtina dialogue meeting, where important decisions were made not only for the region, but also for the European continent. "This for us, being a small country, is truly of special importance," President Pendarovski said.

"As the President of a country located in a turbulent region, over the past five years, I have tried to lead a balanced, transparent and predictable foreign policy, in the interest of peace and security, good neighborliness, stability, prosperity and common values we share with democratic countries," he said. 

"The European integration of North Macedonia and the Western Balkans have always been the focus of my commitments and the commitments of my closest associates. I have believed in this since the beginning of my public engagement and I will continue to advocate for this idea until it is fully realized," he added.

On the topic of European integration, Pendarovski said despite the country's compromises, "which were not harmful to Macedonian national interests," and "starting EU negotiations after 17 years of waiting," the country had failed to adopt the constitutional amendments required to continue the talks after the successfully completed screening.

"However," the President said, "we took a big step forward and reached the stage where progress in integrations is now only up to us, and not up to any outside factors."

Pendarovski said the country's future would be much more predictable as a EU member "than if we were alone or if we tried to integrate into some other forms that do not have anything to do with democratic values."

"This is why I want to reaffirm my position that the state needs to stay on the European integration path and keep building good neighborly relations, regardless of who is in power after the May elections," he said.

According to Pendarovski, the Western Balkans, integrated in the EU, will be safe, economically prosperous and resistant to malicious influences. This, he added, should be a priority for any responsible politician here, but also in Brussels.

Speaking about the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, the President said their outcome would set the dynamics of the reforms in the fight against organized crime and high corruption, the public administration, and the rule of law.

"We are facing a period of growing political tensions and emotions," Pendarovski said, adding that "the power struggle should not be allowed to undermine the foundations society was built on."

"It is the responsibility of us politicians not to allow political opponents turn into enemies. The election process must be fair, peaceful and democratic, and the next government must reflect the will of the citizens and our ethnic diversity," Pendarovski said.

After the elections, politicians need to be held responsible for fulfilling their election promises and also for committing to further improve interethnic relations and the continue the European integration.

"Regarding the constitutional changes, the future Parliament needs to continue the debate and close this issue as soon as possible, because the state has to fully focus on solving everyday problems, alleviating the negative demographic trends and the low standard of living of Macedonian citizens," he said. mr/