Macedonians, Macedonian citizens, Macedonian integration instead of “citizens of FYROM, your citizens and your integration”. These are the messages conveyed after the meeting with the Macedonian President Ivanov at the press conference by the EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule, which indirectly is considered an affirmative answer to the question whether the October’s report of the European Commission will contain the adjective “Macedonian”.

After the meeting with the NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and his acknowledgement that the solution to the imposed name dispute with Greece must not infringe Macedonian identity and language, President Ivanov this afternoon succeeded in receiving positive tones by the EU Commissioner.

Commissioner Fule, did not give a direct answer whether the term “Macedonian” in relation to the nation and the language spoken in Macedonia will be incorporated in the October’s report, emphasizing that he heard that the Macedonian President had to say on that matter.

“We both focused on the essence of what needs to be done for your country to get a date to start negotiations for EU membership and for that to happen sooner rather than later. There is no need for President Ivanov to ask my support for the EU integration process of the Macedonian state, I have been doing that because I believe in the EU enlargement and that the Macedonians in the EU will strengthen the process of enlargement and that all Macedonian citizens will benefit. However, I do not tend to discuss things from the report while it is being prepared”, the EU Enlargement Commissioner Fule said, adding that at the meeting with the President he did not reveal details of the content of the European Commission’s report.

He pointed out that it is most important the findings of his department in the EC first to be submitted to the College of Commissioners, President Jose Manuel Barroso, the EU Member States and the candidate countries for membership in the European Union.

President Ivanov, however, said that the talks with the EU Commissioner focused on everything that Macedonia is currently doing as a step forward in the European integration processes. He noted that he thanked Fule for his contribution in the movement of these processes.

"This meeting takes place in a crucial period for Macedonia, when the country is in the process of fulfilling its tasks under the High-Level Accession Dialogue, which gives results and contributes Macedonia to feel the spirit of the reforms. Therefore, we expect a positive report by the European Commission and unblock of the process of European integration of our country. We are aware that a decision is taken by consensus, but we hope the positive results Macedonia has achieved would result in a date to start EU membership negotiations", President Ivanov said.

The Macedonian President received a confirmation from the EU Commissioner that Macedonia has achieved relevant and numerous results in many areas. Fule mentioned the progress made in the implementation of the Framework Agreement, the reform of the judiciary, freedom of expression in the media and in other areas. This will also be noted and will be part of the European Commission's report in October.

"In context of the imposed dispute by our southern neighbor, I told Commissioner Füle that we have a new reality which requires fulfillment of obligations taken by Greece. This country violates the Interim Agreement, and now there is the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). We require the same what all EU member states require -Greece to act responsibly towards its commitments. This should be resolved in the United Nations led process, but only if we are active in that process we can come to a solution", President Ivanov said.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia reiterated that he remains on his position not to receive the October's report of the Commission if it does not include the adjective "Macedonian". However, he pointed out that at present we are focused on the essence of the report and whether everything that Macedonia is doing will be noted therein. - "Therefore, we expect a positive report and we are focused on the content. Once we receive it we will say what we have to say regarding its content", the President answered.

EU Commissioner Fule stated that he had interesting and decent conversation with the Macedonian President, and as he said, he was informed of the latest developments in Macedonia.

"President Ivanov informed me of his personal efforts and the efforts of the coalition partners in the government in resolving outstanding issues and finding a way to move forward. The Government of Macedonia needs to implement key reforms of the roadmap under the High-Level Accession Dialogue (HLAD). It is necessary to strengthen inter-ethnic relations in the country, to fully implement the Ohrid Agreement, to strengthen freedom of expression through defamation decriminalization in the media, to review the electoral framework in line with the international standards", Fule said, pointing regional cooperation and good neighborly relations as an essential part of approaching the EU and, above all, a solution to the name issue with Greece, in the framework of the negotiations led under the UN auspices.

Regarding the name issue, the EU Commissioner said that he fully supports President Ivanov in terms of having bilateral meetings and acceleration of the process under the UN. Fule said that he had a vivid debate with Ivanov, whom he appreciates highly, highlighting the role the President plays in situations when inter-ethnic tensions become an obstacle to the country's path towards the EU.

"I appreciate the interest of President Ivanov and his determination to make the third round of negotiations under the HLAD successful. And, as I said, it will be successful if the 3 previously mentioned priorities are met, the EU Commissioner Fule said.

Answering the question of the Bulgarian journalists if he was concerned by the fact that different presentation of shared history may result in blockage of Macedonia's European integration process by Bulgaria, President Ivanov said: "The European Union is an idea that unites us in the future. We should put an end to looking to the past. We are joining the EU, so that together with Bulgaria we can apply European standards, criteria and principles. Let's leave history to historians!"

To this, Commissioner Fule added that Bulgaria is one of the countries enjoying the benefits from joining the EU. – "I know that the same benefits, the Bulgarian authorities would like to be enjoyed by the Macedonian citizens as well".

Later today, President Ivanov will meet with the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, and tomorrow morning he is scheduled to meet the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy, in Brussels.