Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic opened the first Open Balkan wine fair in Belgrade on Thursday with the Prime Ministers of Albania and North Macedonia, Edi Rama and Dmitar Kovacevski.
The fair, the first regional Open Balkan event, brought together some 400 wineries and distilleries from the region, the European Union and as far away as Australia and Argentina.
Vucic told the opening that the Open Balkan idea had a lot of opposition but added that natural things can’t be beaten. He said the fair is an important step in implementing the initative. “We will continue working harder and with greater commitment to make Open Balkan stronger and more attractive for others and so that Albanians, Macedonians and Serbians can enjoy it,” he added. “Our job is to tear down historic barriers and take the weight off the shoulders of our descendants,” he said.
Rama warned that a lot of time was wasted in showing each other who was best in what and who had the right to live here. “We learned that none of us will leave and our countries are her to stay… Our choice is simple – staying here and coming together in the same European neighborhood,” he said.
According to Kovacevski, the main goal of the Open Balkan initiative is to stimulate the region’s economy, as confirmed by the fair. He said the three countries’ economies were brought together at the fair which opens new markets, creates room to exchange ideas and technology. “Open Balkan shows what integration means, easier access, a practical open door policy and good neighbor relations,” the North Macedonia Prime Minister said, adding that the three countries will use every opportunity to create links and new opportunities.
The fair was attended by outgoing Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic.
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