Brussels, 17/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - Prime Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Nikola Gruevski wanted the name issue, which is blocking the opening of accession negotiations, to be settled “as soon as possible”. In his view, the start of accession negotiations could enable his country and Greece to improve their relations and overcome their differences. “I call on Greece to support a decision to be reached for Macedonia by the EU Council in December and to directly contribute to the process of EU integration in the Balkans”, he said, adding that he wanted “our first intergovernmental conference on accession negotiations to be held during the presidency of Greece [of the EU Council of Ministers]” (1 January-30 June 2014).
Gruevski stated that the recommendations of the European Commission's progress report (see EUROPE 10944) - which, for the fifth consecutive year, recommends the opening of negotiations - will be considered as a roadmap for the government's future activities in the accession process. “We agree with the European Commission's conclusion that the opening of the negotiations will (…) consolidate reforms and strengthen interethnic cohesion”, he said. (CG/transl.fl)