'Frozen' Balkan conflict benefits Russia
Russia has an interest in frozen conflicts continuing in the Balkans, says North Macedonian PM.
Russia is trying to influence politics in the Balkans to maintain 鈥渇rozen conflicts", the prime minister of North Macedonia has said.
鈥淭hird countries,鈥� Dimitar Kovacevski told 大象传媒 Hardtalk, 鈥渋ncluding Russia, have always had their interests in having frozen conflicts in the Balkans鈥�.
The prime minister said Russia was working with opposition groups, media organisations and analysts in North Macedonia to affect public opinion.
Mr Kovacevski said this disinformation 鈥渋nfrastructure鈥� was able to exploit the failure of the European Union to quickly deliver vaccine to its neighbours.
It was, he continued, 鈥渆ven stronger鈥� earlier this year as North Macedonia entered negotiations to join the European Union.
The former Yugoslavian state submitted its application to join the EU in 2004 and has been a candidate country for almost two decades. The country changed its name from Macedonia to North Macedonia to end a long running dispute with Greece.
A proposal to end a disagreement with Bulgaria over cultural and historical disagreements was put forward by France earlier this year, giving the country鈥檚 membership prospects a boost and leading to renewed negotiations with the EU.
However, the proposal is controversial with many Macedonians - sparking street protests earlier this year and promises from opposition groups to oppose the legislation.
