The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, yesterday evening, on the sidelines of the 3rd Annual Conference of the Center for Global Dialogue and Cooperation in Vienna, held an informal meeting with the European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, reiterating that Macedonia's blockade pertaining to the launching of the EU accession negotiations takes too long, and the status quo is frustrating.

The start of negotiations will positively affect the reform process and the general situation in the region, President Ivanov said at the meeting.

"No one would lose anything if Macedonia starts negotiations, on the contrary, the benefit is multi-faceted, the Macedonian President said, stressing the possibility of parallel movement in the integration process and overcoming bilateral differences as a model to be used.

President Ivanov informed the interlocutor at his interest about the UN-led process to overcome the difference over the name.

During the talks, Barroso reaffirmed the commitment of the EC for continuation of the enlargement policy with the Western Balkan countries. The situation in the region was also discussed.

President Ivanov, immediately after the opening of the CGDC Conference, first addressed the participants and the day before, within the working visit to Vienna, had a working meeting with the Austrian counterpart, Heinz Fischer.