Italy backs Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic integration

Rome, 5 October 2010 (MIA) - Italy is Macedonia's sincere friend and supporter of EU and NATO integration, President of the Italian Senate Renato Schifani told Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov at their joint meeting on Tuesday in Rome.

He praised Macedonia for its role in the region as well as for the reforms implemented in meeting its strategic goals.

Extending gratitude for the strong support of EU integration processes, Ivanov informed Schifani about ongoing developments in the UN-led process on the differences involving the name with Greece.

"Macedonia is prepared for a mutually acceptable solution", said Ivanov adding that the Slovenian-Croatian model of parallel processes was a positive example.

Both interlocutors concluded that parliamentary cooperation would be further developed in the frames of overall cooperation.

In the course of his working visit to Rome, President Ivanov held talks with Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano earlier in the day.