Skopje, December 28 (MIA) - Opening of EU accession talks will be a top priority of Macedonia's foreign policy in 2010, FM Antonio Milososki told members of the Foreign Policy Committee on Monday.
To this effect the Government will keep working on reforms and playing proactive role in efforts for ironing the differences with Greece over the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia, Milososki said.
Macedonia is completely prepared for starting the EU entry talks, namely the country has already set up expert teams, working on wrapping up the structure of the negotiating ones that will successfully conduct the accession talks, the FM said, pointing out that the country intended to add more experts to its mission in Brussels.
Referring to the results in 2009, Milososki said Macedonia had in generally fulfilled the agenda it set to itself for this year -- it got positive European Commission (EC)'s report on completed reforms and recommendation for opening of the EU accession talks, free visa regime and accreditation of domestic institutions for management of the EU IPA (Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance) funds.
Despite the fact that the EC recommendation for opening of the EU entry talks was not valorized in a political decision at this month meeting of EU members, it is a significant phase of the country's EU-integration process, he said.
- We believe that the EU will find a mode to put its general interest above everything else, thus enabling the countries that deserve to go forward to resume their processes towards the membership. The EU and other partners have invested substantial political capital, financial means to bring (Macedonia's) process to this desired level and we believe that the Spanish Presidency will soon put Macedonia's issue on its agenda, Milososki said.
In regard to Macedonia's NATO membership, Milososki said that in spite of the unbearable situation following the Summit in Bucharest the country was working on agreed activities of the 11 cycle of the Membership Action Plan - presented this October. Macedonia as future NATO member is committed to take over its part of the responsibilities in EU, NATO, UN-led peacekeeping missions, the FM said, adding that next year Macedonia would increase the number of its troops in Afghanistan from 190 to 250, becoming the fifth contributor to ISAF.
The country's activities in terms of neighboring relations will be focused on further development of the economic, cultural ties, cooperation in infrastructure projects and fighting the organized crime, Milososki said.
He reaffirmed the Government's commitment to active and constructive participation in negotiations with Greece on the name row settlement via further development of the bilateral relations on the principles of trust, mutual respect. This commitment has been proved thus far by numerous initiatives, including the proposal for raising the diplomatic ties between the two countries to ambassadorial level. lk/fd/20:47
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