The European Union must not allow the country to be a victim of identity issues or bilateralization related to identity issues, Italian President Sergio Mattarella told a meeting with President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova in Rome on Monday, MIA’s correspondent reports.
President Siljanovska Davkova told reporters after the meeting that the head of the Italian Republic is our great friend and the two have reaffirmed commitment to reintegration of the Western Balkans in the EU.
“He has spoken with European Council President, António Costa, and with European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, about what is happening to us. And, not only as our friend, but also as a great friend of the Western Balkans, he said that the EU must not allow our country to be a victim of identity issues or of bilateralization related to identity issues. He expects, and I also expect, that there will be talks with our neighbours so as to see what the best solution might be,” said Siljanovska Davkova.
At the meeting with Mattarella, she reaffirmed the country’s commitment to guarantees, noting that “if another change is made as the EU is pointing to, then not only will we gain nothing, but the Balkans will gain nothing either, because the story of the veto and the bilateralization of European integration will happen again.”
“Both the Pope and the President of Italy say that they have been and remain our friends, and on that path they will not forget the principles of the EU, which I mentioned again, because without principles and values, the EU cannot be a philosophy, it cannot be a prestigious and inspiring community, and I also mentioned the need to sit down respectfully with our neighbours, in this case Bulgaria, and resolve the issue,” Siljanovska Davkova said.
Earlier on Monday, President Siljanovska Davkova had an audience with Pope Leo XIV as part of her visit to Rome and the Vatican on occasion of the Day of the Pan-Slavic Educators, Ss.Cyril and Methodius.
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