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INFO
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VICE-PREMIER BOCEVSKI:
FRANCE - STRONG MACEDONIA'S ALLY ON ROAD TO EU
France will hold to its fair attitude towards Macedonia and its
EU-integration progress, respecting the country's contribution and reform
achievements, said the State Secretary for European Affairs of the French
Foreign Ministry, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, at a meeting Tuesday in Brussels with
Vice-Premier for European Affairs Ivica Bocevski, MIA's correspondent
reported.
Jouyet gave credit to Macedonian authorities for the progress in the visa
liberalization process, Bocevski told reporters after the meeting.
The EU enlargement towards the Balkans, including Macedonia, remains the
priority of France's EU Presidency in spite of the unpredicted difficulties,
such as the turmoil in Georgia and the financial crisis, Bocevski said.
- We have agreed on the resumption of (enlargement) process. Macedonia
considers France as a strong ally on its road to the EU membership, Bocevski
said, reminding of the crucial role of high-profile French lawyer, professor
and politician Robert Badinter in elaborating Macedonia's case before French
diplomats and the European Commission.
Macedonia will keep exerting pressure not only for getting a date to start
the EU entry talks, but also for full-fledged EU membership, Bocevski said.
- For three years Macedonia has been a candidate country for the EU
membership. For three years the process has been more or less deadlocked,
which is an unsustainable situation, Bocevski said.
Bocevski-Jouyet meeting also tackled Skopje-Athens name row, reaffirming the
positions of France, Macedonia and Greece on the matter.
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NEWS
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FM MILOSOSKI, U.S. OFFICIAL FRIED
DISCUSS NAME ISSUE, KOSOVO
Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki met late Tuesday in New York with U.S.
Assistant State Secretary Daniel Fried.
According to representatives of the FM's Cabinet, the name issue and
Macedonia's recognition of Kosovo were on the meeting's agenda.
FM Milososki presented three reasons that hinder the name solution process.
The first is Greece's denial of the identity of the Macedonian nation and
language, imposing this issue as topic in the talks. The second is Athens'
request for change in the Constitution, which is interpreted as denial of
sovereignty and involvement in country's internal affairs. The third reason
is Greece's request to dictate countries that have recognized Macedonia's
constitutional name to change such a decision.
Milososki stated that a change of the Greek positions would facilitate the
process, opening more possibilities for the issue's closure.
Interlocutors assessed that the row may be resolved only if both countries
make concessions. Macedonia insists on the double formula as a solution, and
Greece a name for general use.
Moreover, the Macedonian Foreign Minister emphasized that an instrument must
be found, which could guarantee that both parties abide by the agreement.
Pertaining to Kosovo's recognition, Milososki said that Macedonia would take
into account its state interests, following EU's policy on the issue.
U.S. Assistant State Secretary Fried is scheduled to meet with President
Branko Crvenkovski on Wednesday.
Crvenkovski will also meet with UN mediator Matthew Nimetz, who will
previously hold a meeting with Greek FM Dora Bakoyiannis.
Macedonian and Greek officials will not meet in New York. |
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