Mickoski: Tensions are returning to the Western Balkans — “a single spark could ignite the entire region”

North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has voiced deep concern over the state of the Western Balkans, warning that the tensions of the 1990s are resurfacing, as reported by Sloboden Pečat and 4NEWS.

His remarks came after the meeting of Western Balkan leaders with the EU’s high representative for foreign policy, Kaja Kallas, held in New York.

“One spark can ignite the entire region and cause serious tensions that could escalate into conflict,” Mickoski said, stressing that even a seemingly small incident could produce a wider regional crisis.

Mickoski also spoke about the bilateral dispute with Bulgaria, saying the EU should get involved in the process to hear the arguments of both sides, since bilateral meetings so far have yielded no results.