The President of the Government of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, gave a welcoming speech at the Western Balkan Summit – Reinforcing the momentum for European Integration, organized by the respectable magazine “Economist”. 

At the conference attended by numerous guests from the country, region and the world, Prime Minister Zaev talked on the topic “Stability and Growth in SEE: Are we on the right track?” 

Below you will find the integral address of the President of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia: 

Four days ago I was in the United Nations where I address the greatest gathering of the world leaders as Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia. I witnessed that even a small country, as the Republic of North Macedonia, can send a message of freshness, change and hope. 

Can itself be good news. 

Today I have the honour to host renown fighters for prosperity and stability in South-Eastern Europe, the EU and globally. People who have devoted their lives to resolving problems, encouraging democracy and consensus in the EU Parliament and people who have spent hours and hours with countries such as the Republic of North Macedonia to strengthen their message, to help and teach them how to use diplomacy as tool in order to improve the life of their citizens. 

Today I am standing in front of you, happy to see all these people awaiting good news! 

And today I want to speak of the importance of good news. 

The expectation of good news holds us in state of anticipation, a bit of fear, but at the same time – hope. 

Think of the moment when you hear good news. When a child hears that it will go on vacation with mom and dad. When a student hears good news for their exam. When a couple finds out that they are expecting. Good news brings new energy and new life. 

During this Government’s turn I had the honour to announce good news on several occasions. One of them was the resolution of the dispute between the Republic of North Macedonia and Greece. 

I will always remember 17th June in Prespa when together with Alexis Tsipras we raised our hands as true partners and friends who bring good news to their countries. 

This year in February the Prespa Agreement entered into force, thus resolving the 27 year dispute we had with Greece. The bilateral dispute had serious negative implications, regional and multilateral and unfortunately, it became known to the world as a difficult and insurmountable problem. 

Today we are reaping the fruits of the resolved dispute. We finally completed our ID in the United Nations. Now we have exceptionally good relations with Greece and seriously improved bilateral cooperation. Thus, we contributed to enhancing the regional stability and stimulating development on the Western Balkan. 

We believe that the Prespa Agreement is a true example of the power of diplomacy and dialogue. This is a useful example for many other open disputes. Each problem has its own specifics; however, diplomacy and dialogue remain the best approach to their resolution. Being leaders of our countries, we owe our citizens to resolve problems, to maintain peace and to create conditions for development and better life for all. 

In order to achieve this agreement, we needed faith that problems can be resolved and we needed clear vision. However, it required resilience and endurance. The objective of the Agreement was to overcome the past filled with distrust and to truly build shared future. 

The success of these ventures is not guaranteed. However, the very fact that both parties showed will and endurance in moments when we faced with different viewpoints, accompanied by the will not to avoid but to face difficult questions, is an indicator that this Agreement will reach its end goal – strong partnership between our two neighbourly peoples. 

Moreover, this Agreement is a catalyst for changes because it bears witness to a new transformative process on the Balkan. If you can have transformation, open mind and spirit here, on this place, then one can use this approach for many other places in the world with problems which seem insurmountable.  

For my country, this agreement together with the Agreement on Good-Neighbourliness with Bulgaria, have opened the doors towards achieving strategic goals: NATO and EU membership. The Republic of North Macedonia received the good news: it will soon be the 30th NATO member state. 

If I am being honest, sometimes we are quick to forget where we have stood only two or three years ago. My political career shows that one must take a deep breath when the times are hard and must not forget that your vision involves the citizens who must live better, more qualitative lives and this happens only because of few bold steps that one is ready to make. 

Dear guests, 

In the past two and a half years I announced good news on several occasions. Good news on economy. The resolution of the political problems enabled us to speak enthusiastically for numbers and improvement of economy. 

We proclaimed 2019 to be the year of economy for the Republic of North Macedonia and the same dynamics will continue in 2020. 

In 2018 we witnessed economic progress because we achieved the highest level of foreign direct investments in the past 10 years – 624 million EUR. 

The industrial production in the country was increased by 8% as of the moment when this Government took power and it continues to grow. 

We managed to decrease unemployment and at the moment it is on a historically low level – 17.5% and shows indications that it will continue to decrease. 

The growth of GDP in the first half of the year was by 3.6% and we expect to increase in the course of the year. 

This is a Government that takes care of its citizens who have found themselves in straitened circumstances, for the vulnerable and those who need support and a helping hand. The social transfers are increasing and the overall system of social care is improving, all in order to provide a chance for progress for everyone. 

This Government looks at the private sector as its partner. The business and the private sector in this country are the small and medium enterprises, family businesses, entrepreneurs who throughout this long-term and hard transition process have built brands and products that we are proud of. 

Dear ladies and gentlemen, 

Today, using the help of the renowned Economist we want to tell the world that this region has been changed! 

This region will no longer be stuck in conflicts and hopeless future!

The era of manipulative nationalist rhetoric has passed. We are all striding forward to brighter future. 

The Berlin Process has achieved its goal – to increase the interest in Western Balkan and to put us on the map for cooperation with EU member-states!

The implementation of the Connectivity Agenda of the Berlin Process and the multi-annual action plan for regional economic area has an important objective: to speed up the development of the region and to improve the quality of life of our citizens. 

The region actively speaks of digitalization, shared approach on the European and global markets, customs relief, shared border crossings, shared funds for innovation and accelerators. 

Yes, we are on the true path since these topics, unlike some others, dominate on our agenda! 

This region becomes an example that together, using inventive solutions, in times of global crises, we can turn the crises into opportunities! 

At last, we are here today waiting on the good news for the approximation of the region to the EU. 

We are especially pleased that five days ago the German Bundestag voted in favour of receiving a date for EU negotiations for North Macedonia and Albania in October. This move shows recognition of the concrete progress that the countries have made, but at the same time it speaks of credibility and commitment that EU have towards their enlargement agenda. 

Our neighbours, EU member-states, last week, while we attended UNGA, used the opportunity to express their support for Republic of North Macedonia to commence negotiations with EU. 

I would like to reiterate. Think of this moment. A small country from the Balkan stands upright and is proud before the members of UN because it sees and feels the support coming from its neighbours who, on the other hand, express this support loud and clear. 

Are we on the right track? 

I believe that the good news, for commencement of EU negotiations will have positive impact over the whole region. A message will be sent that the Western Balkan is an integral part of Europe. It will recognize the progress of the reforms and the investment in resolving zealous problems. This will encourage the countries to show political courage for overcoming their problems. 

A stable Balkan region is in the interest of EU, especially when it comes to geo-politics, economy and security. A closer cooperation with EU member-states will help us face the challenges that are of key importance for the EU agenda, such as climate change, energy, environment, security and migration. 

The good news for the Republic of North Macedonia will also be good news for EU because we bring enthusiasm for the important role that EU plays as a global stakeholder and we remind the EU to its initial values on partnership, solidarity and shared prosperity. 

Dear guests, 

Today we will speak of challenges and opportunities. But I want to invite you all to think of the good news that you want to share from your position of leaders. 

The citizens are expecting, so let us give everything in our power to give them good news as often as possible!