The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, who met with the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso and the EU enlargement Commissioner, Stefan Fule in Brussels, said that Macedonia expects a positive report from the Commission in November and a date for opening of the negotiations for full membership.
- I am here as President of a State in which the Euro-Atlantic integration is a top priority, where the European future of Macedonia enjoys plebiscite citizens’ support. Therefore, I sincerely believe that the recommendation you have provided will soon result in a date for starting the negotiations – President Ivanov said after the meeting with Barroso.
Concerning the dispute imposed by Greece related to the Macedonian integration, the President said that Macedonia is a constructive actor and partner, and expressed expectation that Greece will act in a European manner in the forthcoming period in order to overcome this bilateral and irrational dispute.
- I understand the extreme sensitivity of this issue. However, I urge all parties to resolve this obstacle as soon as possible. It is time to make a decision. Now is the time to decide on the name issue - Barroso stated at the joint press conference. Barroso assessed that in the past period the climate in the talks between Skopje and Athens was improved, as well as that there is will from both sides to overcome the dispute. President Barroso also called for maintaining the pace of the reforms in Macedonia in the forthcoming period.
President Ivanov in Brussels is accompanied by the chief of the Macedonian diplomacy, the Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki. Meetings with the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy and with the President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, Andre Flahaut are planned for tomorrow.