The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, who pays a two-day official visit to the Republic of Croatia, today in Zagreb, met the Croatian President, Ivo Josipovic. Both Presidents assessed that the relations between the two countries are excellent but still there is room to boost economic cooperation, by infrastructure connectivity, increase of trade exchange.

President Josipovic said that Croatia will continue to support Macedonia in its Euro-Atlantic integrations. As future EU member state, it will not lay obstacles on Macedonia’s path, regardless of the open bilateral issue with Greece. The Macedonian Head of State asked Josipovic to urge application of the positive model of overcoming the Croatia-Slovenia dispute in the settlement of Macedonia’s bilateral row with Greece.

“With the application of this positive example, the EU accession negotiations and the settlement of the name issue can move in parallel”, President Ivanov stressed, voicing belief that the European Commission will approve this positive model.

His counterpart Josipovic expressed support to Macedonia’s integration, adding that bilateral problems should not have an effect on the individual path of any country towards the EU. As future member of the EU and as a window for regional problem settlement, Josipovic promised assistance for all countries in the region.

“Croatia’s position is that bilateral problems should not have an effect on the individual path of any country towards the EU, adding that Croatia will not condition the accession of any of its neighbors, including Macedonia. We will constantly provide assistance and I believe that after the elections in my country, regardless of the outcome, the application of this policy will continue, the Croatian President said.

President Ivanov, answering a journalist’s question regarding the omission of the adjective “Macedonian” in the last European Commission Report, said that the EC in the last report on Macedonia’s progress cast a shadow on its sincere intentions, and of the intentions of Greece, since Greece keeps saying that the problem of the name of our country within the United Nations is the single problem it has. He stressed that the Macedonian society sent a strong reaction to the EC since the omission of the adjective Macedonian is the most sensitive issue for us and for all other nations, if concerned.

   
“We consider that with this act the EC takes side, which is not in line with the EU principles, applicable to all. The language is a spiritual homeland of a nation. We ask the EU to act in a European manner, since in its documents and standards, the Macedonian language exists. On the other hand, it is paradox, to whom this report refers, to what population and what is the language spoken by that population to whom this report refers, the Macedonian President said.

President Ivanov at the meeting with his Croatian counterpart Josipovic asked for support of Macedonia’s inclusion in the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative as a permanent member, not as an observer. According to Josipovic, the political component, being the easier one, has been overcome, what remains is the economic aspect.

In presence of both Presidents, the Ministers of Justice, Blerim Bexheti and Drazen Bosnjakovic, signed the Extradition Agreement. According to this document, Macedonian nationals with Croatian passports will be available to the Macedonian authorities at Croatian territory.

President Ivanov is also scheduled to meet today the Croatian Parliament Deputy Speaker, Vladimir Sheks, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gordan Jandrokovic. Meetings are also scheduled with representatives of Croatian companies operating in Macedonia, including “Agrokor”, “Vindija”, “Kras”, “Croatia Airlines” etc.

On the second day of the visit to Zagreb, President Dr. Gjorge Ivanov will meet representatives of the Macedonian community in Croatia, and visit Panko Brashnarov’s tomb.