Belgrade, 2 September 2022 (MIA) - Today was a very important day for the region. We are here together at the Open Balkan Summit to send a message that in solidarity as countries and governments, we have taken concrete steps to tackle the crisis gripping Europe and our countries, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said speaking at a press conference Friday alongside the Open Balkan leaders in Belgrade. "The coming winter will be a long one and the hardest one after World War Two not only for us, but also for the whole world. Judging by the talks I've had today, it's better to go though it together rather than individually. This is the essence of Open Balkan - connectivity, solidarity, good neighborliness in the service of the citizens and their standards," said Kovachevski. A cooperation is ongoing in enabling food supply, added the PM saying the Open Balkan leaders agreed to help each other if the countries face lack of food products at the national markets as a result of the global crisis. No trade bans will be imposed for the basic foodstuffs, he noted. "We will enable stable and uninterrupted flow without restrictions. Even if we put in place export ban, it won't be applied in the Open Balkan countries." "The government of North Macedonia for a long time has been working on increasing domestic food production, but by signing the agreement on cooperation and establishment of mechanisms to provide food, we're acting like a region that cares for its citizens and we offer an alternative in solving existential issues in these difficult times," noted Kovachevski. The PM said the leaders in addition to solving the issue with food shortages have also agreed energy cooperation and ways to address the energy crisis. "We'll improve conditions for international electricity trade and we've already discussed ways to pave the way for cooperation between the Serbian electricity market and the Macedonian operator of organized electricity market," Kovachevski said. According to him, consolidation of the power systems if any country especially given the financial capacities of the three countries is practically impossible if done by each country individually. "However, if we work together on the medium and on the long run in terms of establishing new electricity production capacities, especially base energy and renewable sources energy, we will do so much more and sooner for the countries and their citizens," Kovachevski said. The government, he added, has put into operation all energy potentials. While we have production capacities, at the same time we lack raw materials to produce electricity, but Serbia or Albania have them, which is why this regional cooperation is very important, the premier stressed. The cooperation of the region established today and at yesterday's fair is a step forward in meeting our joint goal for economic cooperation and increasing our offer for European and world markers with real chances to secure better living standards of the citizens, said Kovachevski. "If we promote ourselves on world markets and before foreign investors individually, then we are weaker. But if we join forces, then the chances to attract foreign direct investments also in the region are better," PM Kovachevski told the Open Balkan news conference.