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| Dritan Abazovic |
The Prime Minister of Montenegro, Dritan Abazovi., Denied that his country is joining the regional initiative, "Open Balkans".
Abazovic is participating for the first time in the meetings of this initiative, which are being held in Ohrid, North Macedonia. But, his presence in these meetings is said to be in the capacity of an observer.
"We are not going to Ohrid to join the 'Open Balkans', but to express, together with the EU partners and NATO allies, the attitude towards a regional initiative, so that in the end to have more understanding and good cooperation", said Abazovi through a post on his channel on the social network, Telegram.
Abazovic's reaction came after on June 7, the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, after an informal meeting in Ohrid, stated that Abazovic's participation in the meetings in Ohrid, "officially introduces Montenegro to the 'Open Balkans'".
The "Open Balkans" initiative involves three Western Balkan countries: Albania, Serbia, and North Macedonia - outside of which are still: Kosovo, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
However, representatives of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina are attending in Ohrid.
The "Open Balkans" initiative is a continuation of the Balkan "mini-Schengen", presented in Novi Sad, Serbia on October 10, 2019, by the leaders of Serbia, Northern Macedonia, and Albania.
When the "Open Balkans" initiative was introduced, then Montenegro with the Government of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), refused to participate in this regional initiative.