The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today attended the meeting with the Ambassadors of the EU member-states and the Ambassadors of the candidate-countries for EU membership, a meeting which is traditionally organized by the current EU presidency, in this case, by the Republic of Hungary. During the meeting, opinions and information were exchanged on the latest developments in Macedonia and in the EU, as well as on the open issues and the challenges the candidate-countries are facing.

President Ivanov, who reflected on his recent visit to Hungary, echoed the promises of the Hungarian Presidency, to set the issue of opening negotiations with the Republic of Macedonia for full-fledged membership within the EU on the agenda of the next European Council meeting.

The Hungarian Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia, Ferenz Kekesi, the host of today’s official lunch, reiterated Republic of Hungary’s support, as the current chair of the EU, the issue of setting a date for opening Macedonia’s negotiations with the EU to be discussed at the European Council.

“The expectations from the Hungarian Presidency are great, and we will do our best. For positive results we need the member-states, Brussels and, of course, Macedonia. I do hope that we will succeed in this endeavor. Our Prime Minister is really committed to this and will do his utmost”, Ambassador Kekesi said.

The lunch organized by the Hungarian Embassy in the Republic of Macedonia for the EU member-state Ambassadors to Skopje and for the Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov, is an event organized within the Hungarian Cultural Days. Hungarian specialties were offered on the menu, prepared by Hungarian Chefs.