Brnabic on changing borders in the Balkans, Zaev on fake news: Key messages from two PMs

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic on Monday led the Serbian delegation during an official visit to North Macedonia, where three important agreements have been signed after her face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Zoran Zaev.

The Serbian delegation was welcomed with a ceremony in front of the government in Skopje, after which the prime ministers withdrew for a meeting, followed by the signing of agreements between the two governments.

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Photo: Serbian Government/Slobodan Miljevic

The Serbian prime minister said this was a historic day for both countries.

"We are moving from barriers towards free trade, towards as free and as fast as possible flow of goods and people, looking to the future, and as little as possible to the past. I hope that we will sign similar agreements with other countries in the region," said the prime minister.

As for European integration, Brnabic said that Serbia offers its full support to North Macedonia.

"Without a stable region, there will be no new investment," said the prime minister.

Screenshot/North Macedonia Government

She expressed her great gratitude that this year, starting from September 4, Serbian language will be taught in schools in North Macedonia.

"The position of the Serb community in North Macedonia is something that is of utmost importance to us and is another additional indicator of how much we want to work to improve our two countries' relations," she said.

ON KOSOVO

The prime minister recalled that North Macedonia has recognized Kosovo's independence, and that "our countries do not agree on this matter, but it's important to maintain communication and talk about everything."

"Unfortunately, the tax imposed by Pristina (on Serbian goods) isn't contributing to anyone," the prime minister said, when asked by a reporter whether North Macedonia benefits from this situation.

Photo: Serbian Government/Slobodan Miljevic

The prime minister said that inter-ethnic borders cannot be drawn in this region, adding that one must look to the future and work towards reconciliation, in this case between Serbs and Albanians.

"Serbia did not impose the border issue, some other people did, and not so long ago. At the time, no one thought, 'if we change borders, we will cause instability'. I don't understand how this was acceptable to those people at the time, but not today? Look at what's been happening in Europe since, thanks to this (Kosovo) precedent," said Ana Brnabic, emphasizing that if a chance for reconciliation is missed now, it will not come again in decades.

ON FAKE NEWS

When it comes to fake news and fighting against them, Zoran Zaev said they were present, but could not particularly influence them. The Serbian prime minister agreed, saying this was "a global phenomenon."

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)