Skopje, December 29 (MIA) - In the past six months, Macedonia made two significant achievements - visa liberalization and European Commission recommendation for opening of accession negotiations after a 4-year candidate status. Although Sweden wanted a concrete wording, the determination of a date has been postponed for the Spanish Presidency, says Swedish ambassador to Macedonia Lars Freden in an interview with MIA.
"The Swedish Presidency wanted to go further and get a concrete formulation, but this is the result reached by all member-states. I would like to say the outcome is a platform that needs to be enhanced. The EU Council should refer to the issue by June 30, 2010, whereas the improved atmosphere in the negotiations with Greece is noted. This is a good page on the road towards start of negotiations", says ambassador Freden.
Asked if Macedonia could obtain a date for beginning of negotiations even if the name issue was not solved with Greece, Freden refers to the consensus of the 27 member-states, but also suggests on continuation of reforms.
"All EU decisions are passed through consensus and Greece is a member, while Macedonia is not. Maybe you should ask Greece this question. Of course, one should see what 'a solution' means, taking into consideration that the name issue is complex and is comprised of several sub-issues. The only thing that Macedonia can do in this situation is to resume with reforms, contacts with Greece, as well as continue to demonstrate that it wants to be EU member", stresses Freden.
According to him, problems in Macedonia could be solved through internal consensus.
"Seen from the outside, none of Macedonia's problems seem large, although I know this is not the perception of people here. However, problems can be solved sooner or later. The name issue settlement requires an internal consensus. I believe this will not be easy, but I am encouraged by the restrained reactions following the December 8 decision, taking into account that the political debate could have been sharper as a result of the issue's sensitivity", states the Swedish ambassador.
Freden says Macedonia and Greece should solve the name issue, not seeing a possibility for the EU to engage in the problem's settlement. However, he points out that the answer to this should be given by Catherine Ashton, the new EU high representative for common foreign and security policy.
"In the course of our presidency we did not have any plans for mediation in the UN-led issue. We believe and we have always said that the problem can be solved only by the parties concerned - Greece and Macedonia", underlines Swedish ambassador Lars Freden. ik/fd/13:20
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