The President of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, have sent encouraging messages for improving bilateral relations between the two countries and the region, according to security studies researcher Nikola Vujinovic.
“A very significant visit, primarily because for the third consecutive year, Prohor Pcinjski has been opened for the jubilee of North Macedonia, which was not the case for the previous 18 years. This is very important for our mutual relations, especially considering how other neighbors treat North Macedonia, particularly the Slavs in Macedonia. I believe this is a continuation of the good relations that have started in the recent past with the ‘Open Balkan’ initiative, which clearly indicates that we will continue to have these relations at the highest level in the future,” Vujinovic said for Kosovo Online.
He adds that it is important that both Davkova and Vucic have sent encouraging messages for the development of bilateral relations.
“The messages we heard from the representatives of Serbia and North Macedonia were encouraging. Cooperation, economic integration, and even cultural cooperation, which is personally very significant for me,” Vujinovic emphasized.
He explains that one of the main unresolved issues between the two countries so far has been the question of the cultural-historical monuments of Serbia on the territory of North Macedonia.
He adds that the meeting between Davkova and Vucic will not “bring joy” to all the neighbors of Serbia and North Macedonia.
“Especially considering that Serbia has already been accused of supporting this political elite in Skopje that won the elections because, for the first time in several decades, a Serb is a member of the government. So, I expect very negative reactions, primarily from the territory of Kosovo,” Vujinovic said.
He warns that Kosovo could downplay the significance of this visit by using the incident that Vjosa Osmani had at the airport in Skopje.
He also expects negative reactions from Greece and Bulgaria.
“I expect negative reactions because any attempt by Serbia, which clearly wants to strengthen the identity of Slavic Macedonia, will be met with hostility from the neighbors,” Vujinovic concluded.
