The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, met today the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Dr. Wolfgang Waldner.

At the meeting, they both expressed mutual satisfaction with the increased dynamics of high-level meetings between senior officials of both countries, which is an evidence for the positive development of relations and cooperation.

President Ivanov expressed his gratitude for the open and continuous support from Austria for the European aspirations of our country, conveying his expectation that Austria will continue to support the interests of the Republic of Macedonia in the coming critical period, before December’s European Council meeting, when Macedonia is expected to finally get a date for starting negotiations for EU membership.

The President once again welcomed the encouraging voice of Austrian President Fischer, who at the last meeting in Vienna said that setting a date for opening negotiations should not wait for the settlement of the name issue, i.e. the bilateral problem with Greece can be resolved by the end of negotiations.

President Ivanov and Austrian State Secretary Waldner discussed the latest developments in the region and the European perspective of the Balkans. The two interlocutors assessed that the Republic of Macedonia continues to be active and constructive actor regionally, providing essential contribution to stability and prosperity of the region, particularly through participation and initiation of regional meetings, encouraging cooperation and engagement in joint projects of common interest.