Mogherini: Prespa Agreement is a unique opportunity that may never happen again

The Prespa Agreement is a unique opportunity for reconciliation and resolving of a two decade-long dispute between Skopje and Athens, and it may never happen again, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini says in an interview with MIA.

It will be clear tomorrow if there is a two-third majority in the Macedonia’s Parliament, necessary for implementing the Prespa Agreement. What’s your message in this moment?

– I’ve had the privilege to attend the ceremony of signing the agreement between Prime Ministers Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev this June by the Prespa Lake. Both sides demonstrated political courage, leadership, responsibility and worked hard to bridge the differences, old problems and reach this historic agreement, welcomed by whole Europe.

Now national procedures for implementing the agreement are in progress in both countries, which should be respected. I understand the sensitivity and complexity of the historic background of the dispute, as well as the expressed concerns. The dispute hasn’t lasted for so long without a reason, but as we saw in the past, as the time goes on it is harder to find solutions. The negotiating process must have been painful and a compromise is the result. But it is a compromise that meets the key interests of both parties. Our position is clear: EU fully supports the reached agreement. This is a unique opportunity for reconciliation in the Western Balkans, which may never happen again. I hope all parties will size the moment and ensure a future within the EU for the country, a future the entire nation has been hoping for years to become reality.

Does it mean that a positive outcome will speed up the enlargement process?

– Reconciliation, regional cooperation and good-neighborly relations play a vital role in our engagement in Western Balkans, being the key principles of the (EU) enlargement process. So a resolution of such complex dispute is of profound importance for the region and its progress on the road to EU. So if the moment is rationally seized to advance in implementing the necessary reforms, than we are looking forward to substantial progress. The (EU) member states have opened the road for commencing the (accession) talks next June, setting clear conditions. This is part of our enhanced engagement in the region, which in the interest of all, the (EU) members and the region.

If approved, will the Agreement bring more stability to the region?

– This historic agreement may contribute to the transformation of the entire Western Balkan region. Nourishing good-neighborly relations helps us to work together in dealing with the great number of challenges and circumstances we have been sharing, including in spheres such as migration. The refugee crisis has shown that wars breaking out far away from Brussels or Skopje may sooner or later have impact in Europe. The Western Balkans is in the core of Europe, we depend on each other. I believe that together we can achieve a lot for the prosperity, security and stability of our nations.