Following
the European Commission (EC) positive report, the recommendation for
launching the EU accession talks and expected visa liberalisation,
Macedonia will remain committed to reforms and settling of other,
remaining issues, including the name row imposed by Greece, Prime
Minister Nikola Gruevski said Wednesday in Brussels after meeting EU
foreign, security policy chief Javier Solana.
- This year Macedonia has achieved solid results in
regard to its EU-integration process - we have positive EC report, a
recommendation for launching the (accession) talks and are rather close
to formally get free visa regime - serious progress, serious
accomplishment. These are serious steps in the country's development to
which we have dedicated a lot of attention and work. In the meantime,
we have managed to settle yet another open issue - a demarcation of the
border with Kosovo - which is also an important step in terms of
stability and our overall progress, Gruevski said at a joint press
conference with Solana.
In spite of the fact that all of those developments
have unfolded in a period of global economic downturn, it seems that
the maximum has been pull out from this year, Gruevski said.
- It is important to say that we are not stopping
here, we shall keep working on mending the weaknesses, noted in the
(EC) report. In the upcoming period we remain committed to the reforms
and settling of other, remaining issues, including the efforts for
finding a solution to the name row imposed by Greece. We will do
everything in our power to soon come to a solution, Gruevski said,
pointing out that it was up to both (involved) parties.
He expressed hope for the new Greek Government to
seriously approach the matter, make it one of its priorities and enter
the negotiations with willingness to come to a certain solution, the PM
said.
For Gruevski, a policy of blockades have brought no results thus far. - Looking back, it may be concluded that such policies
have failed to make any progress, Gruevski said, urging for more
positive energy, a lot of work and dedication.
Asked if the name row could be settled by December,
when a meeting of the EU Council of Ministers is scheduled, Gruevski
said he was not able to give neither positive nor negative answer.
- I may only say that the Republic of Macedonia will
do everything in its power a resolution to the issue to be found soon,
Gruevski said.
Solana on his part said that calling a referendum in Macedonia on the name dispute was not the best idea.
- I believe that the referendum - getting citizen's
opinion on important matters - is not a best solution in a
parliamentary democracy. However, we are respecting the will of the
citizens and government, Solana said.
Asked to comment Greece's political will, Solana said: 'We wish for the matter to be resolved - the sooner, the better'.
- I cannot respond on the behalf of the Greek
government. The Greek PM is a good friend of mine. I am certain that
both Nikola and Papandreou will invest own efforts to resolve (the
issue). That is all I can say. I do not have a prepared formula to
present at the moment for settling of that problem, Solana said.
Today Gruevski was also scheduled to meet Olli Rehn,
but the meeting was cancelled due to ill health of the EU Commissioner
for Enlargement.
Later this afternoon PM Gruevski will attend a meeting of the European People's Party.
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