Brussels, 28/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - It is high time the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Greece found a mutually acceptable solution to the problem of using the name “Macedonia”, the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, said after meeting with Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski in Brussels, on Wednesday 27 October. “The time for delivering has come. The countries should not miss this historic opportunity. Identity questions are certainly important but it is even more important that the past does not hold the future hostage. I call on all sides to resolve this obstacle as quickly as possible and I am hopeful that this will be the case”, Barroso told the press. Putting an end to the dispute is “very important for FYROM, the region and for all of us”, Barroso added. The spat over the name of the country has blocked opening of membership talks with the country (Ed: Greek veto in Council) despite the Commission's favourable recommendation in 2009.
The Commission president also urged the FYROM government to continue with its reform programme, especially in the fields of political dialogue, independence of the judiciary, and the fight against corruption and organised crime.
Prime Minister Gruevski said that opening membership negotiations remained the government's top priority. “Start of accession talks will significantly accelerate reforms in the country and enhance stability in the region”, he stressed. Gruevski asserted that he remained “actively and intensely committed” to the process organised by the UN to seek an acceptable solution to the name issue. The prime minister reiterated Skopje's commitment in favour of reform and modernisation of the country.
Problems with visa liberalisation. Barroso highlighted the fact that Skopje should continue to take measures in order to prevent the visa exemption granted by the EU last year from continuing to entail a spectacular rise in the number of asylum seekers from FYROM. “There have been some problems. It must be made clear that visa free travel does not give a right to seek asylum or to work in the EU”, Barroso said. (H.B./transl.jl)