US Diplomat Escobar in Interview with VoA Macedonian

In a phone interview with VoA Macedonian, US Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Gabriel Escobar, who’s also the US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, says that Bulgarian counterparts have assured him they don’t intend to add more conditions to North Macedonia’s EU path.

According to him, it’s not about guarantees, but rather about just an assurance from Bulgaria that it wants to see the region move forward on the integration path.

“I had talks with my Bulgarian counterparts and they assured me they didn’t intend to add more conditions. They’d like to see progress on the roadmap that’s already there. And we want to be sure we can work with all sides to ensure those conditions are met. However, that should be, remain based on facts and rooted in existing obligations, so that we ensure North Macedonia will be able to move forward in the accession process,” Escobar points out.

Asked whether that meant there would be no new veto if other conditions were met, Escobar says he interpreted it that way.