"HISTORIC YEAR"
National.
This year is of historic importance for Macedonia as the country expects an invitation for membership in NATO, a date for start of negotiations for membership in the European Union (EU) and start of visa regime alleviation negotiations.
This was stated at Tuesday's meeting in Skopje between the Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and the Government members and ambassadors of the EU member-countries in Skopje and the European Representative Erwan Fouere.
The meeting set up by the embassy of Slovenia, the current holder of the Presidency over the Union, brought together deputy prime ministers Gabriela Konevska-Trajkovska, Zoran Stavreski and Imer Aliu, chief of diplomacy Antonio Milososki and Interior Minister Gordana Jankuloska.
PM Gruevski briefed the participants about his recent talks in Brussels with the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, and the EU Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn, and chief of diplomacy Milososki - about the visit to the European Parliament.
High EU representative sin Brussels had the opportunity to commend the progress that was achieved in the last two and a half months in the Parliament, European representative Erwan Fouere said, adding that if the current climate continues, it will provide enough arguments to the European Commission in the autumn report to raise the country on the next level in the pre-accession process.
The message from the EU presidency is to continue the political dialogue and the reforms, because you are on a good road, and we wish 2008 to be year of success, said Slovenian Ambassador Allen Bergant after the meeting.
France will provide productive presidency over the EU in the second half of the year for Macedonia, French Ambassador in Skopje Bernard Valero said, adding that 2008 will be very important year.
Deputy prime minister for European Integration Gabriela Konevska-Trajkovska said that the meeting with the EU ambassadors in Skopje is a good chance to present the priorities and the national programme for legislative adoption.
We believe that Slovenia and France, as presiders over the EU in 2008, will mark the historic step forward in the Euro-Atlantic integration of Macedonia, chief of diplomacy Antonio Milososki said. While answering reporter's question, Milososki reiterated that the issue about the differences about the name is not a part or the Copenhagen criteria for EU accession.
MD: We'll see if the expected invitation really will come...
[MakFax]
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