The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov paid today a working visit to the Italian Republic. In Rome, President Ivanov met the Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, the President of the Italian Senate Renato Schifani and the Prosecutor General of the Appellate Court – Rome, Luigi Camponi.

President Ivanov requested President Napolitano to initiate application of Croatian-Slovenian experiences in the Macedonian-Greek name dispute. "I told President Napolitano that a positive atmosphere has been created recently and that the restoration of trust between Macedonia and Greece paves the way towards finding a mutually acceptable solution", President Ivanov stated after meeting the Italian President. In this context, President Ivanov underlined, was the request conveyed to Napolitano to initiate application of Croatian-Slovenian experiences in our case so that these two processes – the EU integration and finding a solution to the bilateral issue - are conducted simultaneously. At the meeting, both Presidents also discussed ways to strengthen the Macedonian-Italian political dialogue and the situation in Macedonia and the region.

Macedonia considers Italy as sincere friend and supporter of EU and NATO integration, the President of the Italian Senate Renato Schifani told Macedonian President at their meeting today. He praised Macedonia for its role in the region as well as for the reforms implemented in meeting its strategic goals. Extending gratitude for the strong support of EU integration processes, President Ivanov informed the President of the Italian Senate on the ongoing developments in the UN-led process on the differences concerning the name with Greece. Both interlocutors at the meeting concluded that parliamentary cooperation would be further developed in the frames of overall cooperation.

President Ivanov met Luigi Campoli, Prosecutor General of the Appellate Court – Rome. Upon an invitation of the Macedonian President, Luigi Camponi will visit Macedonia with a purpose to establish cooperation with the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors and with the Public Prosecution Office of the Republic of Macedonia, due to the fact that the reforms in Macedonia’s judiciary are based exactly on the Italian experience.