The President of the Republic of Macedonia Dr. George Ivanov today hosted a working lunch for the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr. Thorbjorn Jagland.

Central discussion topic was the upcoming Chairmanship with the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, whereby, President Ivanov expressed his assurance that Macedonia will invest all its efforts to successfully and productively preside with the Council. Ivanov and Jagland discussed the main priorities of Macedonia in the course of the six-month presidency.

President Ivanov stressed that the Republic of Macedonia since the day of its membership in the oldest pan-European organization has been paying highest importance to the cooperation with the Council of Europe, and in that direction, the contribution to the projected reforms and the increase of the efficiency of the Council will be priorities of the Macedonian Chairmanship.

President Ivanov at the same time stressed that despite the blockades it is being faced with in the Euro-Atlantic integration processes, the Republic of Macedonia remains strongly committed to the reform agenda. Macedonian President clearly emphasized that the Republic of Macedonia in no way wants to abuse its Chairmanship with the Council of Europe in terms of the bilateral issue on the name dispute, for which talks are led under UN auspices.

Secretary-General Jagland expressed his confidence that the Republic of Macedonia will successfully fulfill the responsible duty during its presidency and that in terms of the priorities of Macedonia, as well as in term of the reform processes in the Council of Europe there will be a successful cooperation.