30/11/2009
SKOPJE, Macedonia -- Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has asked EU leaders to back the European Commission's (EC) recommendation to start accession talks with Macedonia, local media reported on Sunday (November 29th). In a letter to the leaders ahead of their December summit, he stressed that enabling each candidate country to progress based on its own achievements is a step that encourages internal reforms and motivates other Western Balkan countries. As for the long-standing name dispute with neighbouring Greece, Gruevski reaffirmed that Macedonia will continue participating in UN-mediated negotiations.
Meanwhile, the country's president, Gjorge Ivanov, sent a letter to NATO head Anders Fogh Rassmunsen reierating Macedonia's strong determination to fulfill its strategic goals -- namely, NATO and EU membership.(MIA, Sitel, Makfax - 29/11/09)