With France opposed to the opening of EU accession talks for Macedonia, Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov and Deputy Prime Minister for European affairs Bujar Osmani are in Paris go plead with the French authorities.

Dimitrov and Osmani met the state secretary for European affairs Amelie de Montchalin, and President Macron’s adviser Clemen Bon, and, as the Government’s press service informed, they emphasized the importance of opening accession talks with “North Macedonia”.

We are certain that France will recognize our thirst and our hard work to create a stable and prosperous European democracy at home, which is fully compatible with President Macron’s efforts for a strong, stable and prosperous Europe, Dimitrov said during the meetings.

Osmani, for his part, insisted that the European perspective is the “only fuel strong enough to move the transformative power of the European Union in the Balkans, which has an opportunity in Macedonia to prove that it can transform societies for the better”. Osmani added that it would increase European influence in the region and its clout, as well as improve stability.

France is the chief opponent of opening accession talks with Macedonia. If talks don’t begin in June, Zoran Zaev has threatened that he may resign as Prime Minister, warning at the same time of the danger of an outburst of Albanian nationalism.