Macedonia and Serbia’s prospects are in the EU, regardless of the existing obstacles, we will not be discouraged in our way, stated at today’s joint press conference in Skopje the Presidents of Macedonia and Serbia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov and Dr. Boris Tadic, answering a question about the additional requirement - the name issue for Macedonia and Kosovo for Serbia.

The European integration is uniting the whole region and we are not discouraged that we are given additional requirements and that this is the third year that Macedonia receives positive progress report, but a date to open accession negotiations is not set yet. We will continue with the reforms in order to attain European criteria, values and principles in our country. Our goal, as a country, is to create Europe internally. Then, the negotiations would be much easier and it would also be easier for us to prove the Union that we are ready for accession. Even though there are delays and some people think that these three years are lost, we have been implementing useful reforms for our society, President Ivanov stated.

President Tadic agreed with Ivanov, stressing that besides their friendly bilateral relations, the two countries are also sharing similar troubles. According to him, some of the Serbian politicians have lost hope because Serbia has not become a candidate country in the first attempt, unlike the Macedonian politicians, who are not discouraged by the attitude of the EU even though the country has not been given a date to start accession negotiations for three years now.

The essence of the European integration lies in the internal reforms. Serbia, as well as Macedonia and the region have a future in the EU. It is the safest zone for our citizens. Challenges and complex requirements are ahead that need to be fulfilled, stated Tadic, adding regarding Kosovo, that Serbia has legitimate interests and it neither can nor wants to give them up and that solving the Kosovo issue cannot hinder Serbia’s European future.

With reference to the church dispute between the Macedonian Orthodox Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church, both President Ivanov and President Tadic stated during the joint press conference that they share the same position - church issues should be settled by churches, and the courts should deal with legal issues.

”This issue must not strain the relations between both countries. Canon law is not part of state constituting law. It is of vital interest for Serbia and for our relations with Macedonia this issue to be solved, Tadic said.

At the meeting, both Heads of State discussed the economic, energy and infrastructure cooperation, which will be focal point of the Macedonian-Serbian Business Forum this afternoon. The Serbian President praised Macedonia's success in tackling macroeconomic issues that are a challenge not only for Serbia, but for the whole region. Tadic reiterated Serbia's strong support for the Macedonian culture and identity and the importance of the cultural and scientific collaboration between the two countries.

Demonstrating the friendly relations between the two countries, the Serbian President Tadic, pointed out the results of the recent poll in Serbia, according to which, Serbs consider Macedonians as closest to them and Macedonia as the closest country to Serbia.