Croatia’s Foreign Minister Minister Vesna Pusic and her Bulgarian counterpart Daniel Mitov have agreed that the EU integration of the Western Balkans and the preservation of the territorial integrity of the region are issues of absolute necessity.

The two foreign ministers reached agreement in Sofia on the need to increase the presence of the EU in the area in a bid to overcome the crises and create preconditions for building modern institutions.

The talks revolved around the situation in Southeastern Europe and the role of Bulgaria and Croatia in the Euro-Atlantic integration of these countries, according to the BGNES news agency.

“There must not be the slightest doubt that all of the countries of the Western Balkans should be part of the EU one day. They have clearly and categorically expressed their desire for this. We have to help them constantly,” Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister noted.

He argued that the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina was difficult and described the current state of affairs in Macedonia as “delicate” but suggested that these were all resolvable political crises.

Mitov reminded that Bulgaria and Croatia had engaged in active cooperation to support the initiative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, adding that the same had to be done for Macedonia and the other countries.

Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister vowed firm opposition to any attempts of “external factors” to destabilize the region.

Pusic spoke in favor of strengthening the presence of EU institutions in Macedonia, adding that this was the way to solve the political crisis in the country.

She said that the only way was to fight for the territorial integrity of all countries in the region, including Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as anything else would be “political suicide” for any country.

Croatia’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs underscored that Bulgaria and Croatia had a rational interest in furthering the Euro-Atlantic integration of neighbor countries as it would mean being surrounded by states which have the same institutions and laws.

She emphasized that the EU provided the opportunity to facilitate economic relations and increase stability and security in the region.