Reeker: We Encourage Resolving Bilateral Issues Outside EU-Integration Process

US Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs and former US Ambassador to Macedonia Philip Reeker addressed a letter to PM Zoran Zaev, voicing support for Macedonia’s integration in the EU and resolution of the bilateral disputes with Bulgaria. “Your accession in the EU remains our great mutual interest, and we shall continue supporting in the realisation of this goal. We encourage you, and EU member states, to continue to solve bilateral disputes outside the EU accession process while aspirants simultaneously progress through the opening and closing of chapters. We appreciate your effort to negotiate in good faith, and to maintaining your commitment to secure the European future North Macedonia has proven it deserves. We remain optimistic that the first inter-governmental session for start of the EU membership negotiations between official Brussels and Skopje will take place very soon and during the German presidency with the EU,” Reeker writes in his letter.