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North Macedonian PM: Extortion Probe Will Be Resolved Before EU Talks

Toshe Ognjanov

   WASHINGTON - Prime Minister of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev says he is
   optimistic that an extortion investigation of the country's former
   chief special prosecutor will be resolved ahead of upcoming European
   Union accession talks.

   "I expect that once I return (from New York), there will be something
   prepared by the working groups, the negotiators on both sides," Zaev
   told VOA's Macedonian Service at the United Nations General Assembly in
   New York on Thursday.

   Zaev, who refused to divulge details of a pending agreement for fear of
   disrupting negotiations, said he expects a deal before a European
   Council meeting on Oct. 17, when ministers from the 28 EU member states
   will decide whether to let North Macedonia and Albania start the
   accession process.

   "The solution itself will send another message about our political and
   democratic maturity," he said, referring to EU accession criteria.

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