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This is the most important issue for the international community. It does not regard the conflict over the name between Athens and Skopje, it is not its concern. It fears that the relations between Slavo-Macedonians and Albanians inside the country might become the wick to set fire to the Balkans again.

In this sense, Gruevski has caused enormous damage to the stability in the region. He has done so because, on the one hand he believes in this idea and because, on the other, he has based his hegemony precisely upon it. He was elected prime minister three times with the flag of patriotism and irredentist Macedonism. For example, the former Foreign Minister came to Greece and put the flag of "Greater Macedonia" on Olympus. These actions are ridiculous but also dangerous for the stability of the Balkans.

Is the international community ready to cope with such a course of events this time?

I feel, albeit I cannot prove it, that it aims to normalize the situation inside the country and alleviate the nationalist rhetoric by isolating Gruevski. After tensions ease and with a more moderate government in Skopje, it would be able to accelerate the country’s accession to the EU and NATO. This is because the dream of all the peoples of the Western Balkans today is to become European citizens. This was the strategy of the West after the collapse of former Yugoslavia as well as the creation of national states when it chose the prospect of the EU and NATO membership with regard to these countries in order to eliminate the issue of borders and alleviate nationalist attitudes.

In the current situation in Europe, however, namely the economic crisis and the rise of xenophobia and racism, my concerns are that it would be very difficult to persuade European citizens to take out more money from their pockets to accept economies such as Albania, Kosovo and FYROM. With regard to Serbia, things are different because of its relations with Russia. That is why the West is quick in accepting it in the EU.

I think the plan is as follows: completion of the Kosovo issue by accelerating the process of Serbia’s accession to the EU, Gruevski’s fall and establishment of a more moderate government in exchange for concessions in order for FYROM to be closer to EU membership.