Rehn says Macedonia must fulfil EU membership political criteria

03/10/2008

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said on Thursday (October 2nd) that the most important condition Macedonia must fulfil to join the EU is to achieve the political criteria for launching accession talks. After a meeting with Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski in Brussels, Rehn told a joint press conference that the conversation was useful and friendly, focusing on Macedonian and regional issues. As for the political criteria, he mentioned stability in the functioning of democratic institutions, establishment of the rule of law and measures to hold fair elections in line with international standards.

As for the name dispute with Greece, Crvenkovski said he is ready to accept a just compromise that does not contradict the cultural and national identity of Macedonia. He expressed hope that Greece will demonstrate some flexibility as well. The UN envoy in the dispute, Matthew Nimetz, plans to meet with Greek and Macedonian representatives in the talks Tuesday.

Later in the day, Crvenkovski met with EU security chief Javier Solana and NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. Solana said time is an extremely important factor in Macedonia's EU and NATO membership bids. Both he and de Hoop Scheffer stressed the importance of resolving the name dispute. De Hoop Scheffer also added that the Euro-Atlantic integration of the whole region is key to stability in the Western Balkans. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband echoed that theme Thursday in an article published in the Podgorica-based daily Vijesti. (AFP, Makfax, MIA, Vijesti - 02/10/08)