Dr. Ioannis Armakolas, Assistant Professor at the Department of Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies, University of Macedonia and Head of the South-East Europe Programme – ELIAMEP was interviewed by Konstantina Dimitrouli and Giorgos Pikoulas for the radio show “Αναμενόμενα και Μη” οf the First Programme of the Greek Public Broadcaster.
Dr. Armakolas spoke about the results of the recent elections in Kosovo and the European objections to the launch of the accession negotiations for North Macedonia and Albania.
“The political change in Kosovo creates a lot of hope domestically, but at the same time a lot of questions outside the country. This is the case because the very popular party which is coming to government and its leader will be the next Prime Minister is regarded as controversial. The international community has tried many times in the past to keep it out of the government”, said Dr. Armakolas regarding the party “Self–determination” which was the big winner of the recent elections in Kosovo.
“(France’s refusal to give the green light for North Macedonia and Albania to start accession negotiations) could lead to the weakening of Prime Minister Zaev’s government that is going to hold elections in less than a year, and we may see a return to the government of the nationalist VMRO party which could question the Prespa Agreement”, he underlined in his statements.
The interview is available, in Greek, here.
