Mrs. Eli Bojadjieska Ristovski:

The Russian aggression against Ukraine has shattered all notions that we have been nurturing to date about the development of the future of Europe and about the 21st century in general. On 24 February, a new era and a new chapter in geopolitics began. If Russia's aggression against Ukraine has not brought all of us together with a common understanding of the intrinsic value of EU enlargement, including the western Balkans, Georgia and Moldova, as was the case back in the 1990s with the enlargement to include central European countries, then there is nothing in the future of a greater magnitude to achieve this. We warmly welcomed the EU candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova, as well as the European perspective for Georgia. It is an important message of solidarity and a historic step for the recognition of the European future of these countries. As I said, we welcome this decision. We do not see it as a threat to the western Balkans in general. It is positive news. The success of one country is a success for all countries. If Serbia and Montenegro are progressing towards the EU, that is a good sign for us that we will progress. It is motivation for us, Moldova and Ukraine too.

In response to the second question, as I said at the beginning, political parties, especially the opposition, should be up to their tasks, as should members of parliament. They should concentrate on what is in the interests of the country, not on what is in the interests of the political party until the next elections. I do not agree with the perception that the country has paid a high price to start the accession negotiations. The great courage and vision which has been shown by the political leadership with regard to the European future of the country and its citizens is something we should acknowledge and use for the future generations of the country.