H.E. Mr. Qirjako Qirko:

We have to fulfil our obligations because we know that being a member of the European Union will take time. We have to prepare ourselves for the next steps. We have been continually reforming for more than 31 years in my country, and the aim is just that one day we will join the European Union. Now more than ever it is important to speed up the process because everyone who knows the history of the western Balkans knows the specific interests that the so called third parties, Russia and China, have in the region. Considering Russia specifically, it is in the Russian strategy to delay or avoid the membership of the western Balkan countries in NATO or the EU. That is why the right answer for the Russian ambitions in this region would be for the EU to accept the western Balkan countries as quickly as possible.