The support for the start of the negotiations over Macedonia's full-fledged EU membership, which Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban declared in Brussels on Thursday, fulfills the promises given by Hungarian authorities in the course of the President’s visit to Budapest earlier in the week. According to President Ivanov this action implies moving the status quo situation over the enlargement process and the relations with Macedonia.

"Altering of the status quo in the name issue requires leadership and vision. We see this leadership through Orban's statements, since they fulfill everything they promised during our discussions. Our Hungarian friends will repeat what PM Orban said at every future Council meeting", President Ivanov told journalists after the end of the 14th Eurasian Economic Forum in Istanbul.

Hungarian PM Orban asked at yesterday's Western Balkans Conference that Macedonia begins EU accession negotiations despite the unresolved name row.

"Pertaining to Macedonia, this is one of the most difficult problems, if I may say a pure absurd. Even as chairman of the EU Council I have to think how to address the country, think whether I can say Macedonia or use FYROM, which is absurd. If one country meets the conditions and tasks set, it should be given the chance to start negotiations and afterward reach an agreement with the member-state. It is unfortunate that we do not open the negotiations due to a political conflict. We need to start negotiations with Macedonia", said Orban.

Prior to his departure from Istanbul, President Ivanov met with Ecumenical Patriarch Batholomew. He qualified the meeting as useful and constructive. The topics discussed, as President Ivanov indicated, were related to current issues, whereas the Ecumenical Patriarch used the opportunity to send greetings for the forthcoming Easter holidays to all Macedonian Orthodox followers.

President Ivanov assessed the Eurasian Economic Forum participation as a success, with results to be seen in the coming period.

"Just like last year, we had the opportunity to meet top ranking businessmen from the region. Such fora represent an opportunity to discuss Macedonia’s priorities and meet people who are interested in investing, since Macedonia's priority above all is economic development. All the meeting of this kind support Macedonia’s economic development – attracting new investors, keeping updated with new developments, participating in newly opened issues, as this forum brings together countries from Europe and Asia, opening topics of interest for our region", underlined President Ivanov.

Regarding his appointment as a Doctor Honoris Causa at the Istanbul University, the chief of state underlined it is not only a personal acknowledgment, but also recognition to Macedonia.

“This gesture confirms all our engagements in building better and stronger relations between our two countries,” said President Ivanov after completion of the visit to Turkey.