The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, received today Ambassador Aivo Orav, Head of the Delegation of European Union to the Republic of Macedonia.

At the meeting, Ambassador Orav handed over the 2014 Progress Report on the Republic of Macedonia to President Ivanov and referred to the key assessments contained in the Report drafted by the European Commission.

President Ivanov expressed satisfaction with the recommendation confirmed regarding the Republic of Macedonia's readiness to start accession negotiations with the EU, adding that the report of the European Commission, again this year, gives an objective picture of all that has been done and achieved in the country, as well as directions for the future challenges our country should pay attention to.

Ambassador Orav expressed hope that the Republic of Macedonia will continue with the reform processes and will soon start negotiations for membership in the European Union.

President Ivanov stressed that the European integration is our strategic goal and that the Republic of Macedonia needs to get what it has deserved - to launch the long-awaited negotiations that will provide an additional stimulus to accelerate the reform processes in the country. The Macedonian President expressed hope that, at the next European Council, the EU member-states will respond positively to the EC recommendation.

"The ongoing status quo in Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic integration I have pointed out many times by now, has greatly contributed to the contained assessments in the Report of the European Commission. The Republic of Macedonia is the first country in the region that signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union, it is a country-candidate since 2005, and since 2009 the Commission recommends opening of accession negotiations. I think that the European Council finally has to see the consequences of the prolonged waiting and give a date for commencement of negotiations," President Ivanov said.

The Macedonian President said that all political and social actors in the country should focus and make additional efforts aimed at reform agenda fulfillment.

"Together, committed and responsibly we have to work to achieve our strategic goals. Regardless of the remarks noted in the Report, our primary goal should always be the Republic of Macedonia's progress," President Ivanov said.