FM Milososki asks Greek counterpart Droutsas for support over Macedonia's EU accession talks

Skopje, 3 December 2010 (MIA) - Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki has sent a letter to Greek counterpart Dimitris Droutsas, in which he asks for Greece's support over the decision for start of Macedonia's EU accession negotiations.

"In light of the coming meetings of the Council of the European Union and the European Council, I would like to use this opportunity to ask for Your support over the adoption of a decision for the start of Macedonia's accession negotiations with the EU", says FM Milososki in the letter.

According to him, the European Commission has reconfirmed the recommendation for the beginning of Macedonia's accession talks in the 2010 Enlargement Package, recognizing the country's achievements in the past year.

"My country has qualified for the start of accession negotiations for the second year running, and has been an EU candidate-country for five years now. Such status is unsustainable for a country that is set to establish full trade harmonization with the EU in line with the Stabilization and Association Agreement in the course of January, but also for EU's credibility and the enlargement policy", says Milososki.

He adds that Greece, being the oldest EU member from the region and a proven friend of the enlargement policy through the Thessaloniki Agenda, but also through initiative Agenda 2014/2018, can provide the crucial contribution in revitalizing the region's European integration.

"Your support in passing a decision for the start of accession negotiations will give the required political impulse for this. This joint step will also stimulate the necessary positive climate of trust in mutual relations regarding the permanent settlement of the final bilateral difference through a sustainable solution that is acceptable for both countries and peoples, in the interest of regional and European stability and prosperity", underlines Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki in the letter addressed to Greek colleague Dimitris Droutsas.