Tuesday, 10 July 2012
AUSTRIA AND SLOVAKIA STRONGLY SUPPORT THE EUROPEAN INTEGRATION PROCESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
The members of the Foreign Policy Committee and of the European Affairs Committee of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia held a joint meeting with the Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Mr. Michael Spindelegger and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic Mr. Miroslav Lajčák.
Welcoming the guests, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Policy Mr. Antonijo Milošoski expressed appreciation for the continuous support that Austria and Slovakia are giving to Macedonia on its path towards integration in the EU. He said that the priorities of country remain the same.
The Chairman of the European Affairs Committee Mr. Hajrula Minisi emphasized the fact that the in the last three years Macedonia has received positive Progress Reports from the European Commission, which is confirmation of the success of the reform processes in the country. 
He also mentioned the consensus among the citizens in the country, regardless of their ethnic origin, for joining the EU.
Mr. Spindelegger and Mr. Lajčák said that their visit is a strong signal of the support their countries are giving to the European integration process of the country. They added that the name issues should not be an obstacle for integration of the Republic of Macedonia in the Union.
The Macedonian parliamentarians agreed that the parallel process of negotiations regarding the name and for joining the EU would be valuable for the Republic of Macedonia which continues to be committed to implementation of the reforms of the administration and the judiciary and to decriminalization of libel and defamation.