Friday, 11 January 2013
THE PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION - BRIDGE BETWEEN THE PARLIAMENTS AND THE PEOPLE
The coordinators of the Parliamentary Groups of VMRO-DPMNE and DUI, Ms. Silvana Boneva and Mr. Talat Xhaferi, had separate meetings with Mr. Luke Simpkins - member of the Australian Federal Parliament visiting Macedonia. The MP from the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia Mr. Milorad Dodevski and the Honorary Consul of Australia to the Republic of Macedonia Mr. Zoran Kostovski attended the meetings.
Welcoming the guest, the coordinator of the Parliamentary Groups of VMRO-DPMNE expressed satisfaction from the intensification of the parliamentary cooperation between the two counties in the last several years, which contributes to the strengthening of the overall relations. Ms. Boneva thanked Mr. Simpkins for his personal engagement and support to Macedonia and the Macedonian community in Australia, and emphasized the importance of the parliamentary friendship groups established in the Macedonian and Australian Parliament in the building of bridges of friendship between the two nations.
Ms. Boneva informed the guest about the current developments in the country, as well as about the latest events regarding the name issue and the integration of the country in the Euro-Atlantic structures. She also expressed hope that the economic policies of the Republic of Macedonia for attracting foreign investments and the promotion campaigns in many countries, including Australia, will result in intensification of the cooperation between the two countries in all areas, especially in the field of economy.
Mr. Simpkins expressed regret that Europe did not exert more pressure on Greece to respect the Interim Accord of 1995 and the ruling of the International Court of Justice in The Hague and not impede Macedonia on its path towards membership in NATO and the EU.
Ms. Boneva wished Mr. Simpkins’ Liberal Party success at the forthcoming elections in Australia, adding that the recognition of Macedonia under its constitutional name by Australia would send a strong signal to all the other countries to support Macedonia’s efforts in the struggle for preservation of the constitutional name.
At the beginning of the meeting with the Australian parliamentarian, Mr. Talat Xhaferi informed the guest about the history, functioning and role of DUI in the Macedonian political life. He said that his party is committed to the development of the political and democratic culture in the country and its integration in the EU and NATO, which would contribute to the strengthening of the internal stability of the country. Mr. Xhaferi also talked about the improved relations among the countries in the Balkans in the last ten years. Regarding the name dispute with Greece, he said that it is a sensitive issue and that all the parties of the Albanians in Macedonia understand and support the Macedonian side, and expressed hope that the problem with be resolved on mutual satisfaction.