Friday, 9 March 2018
Meeting of the President Xhaferi and Ambassadors of the Republic of Austria
The President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Talat Xhaferi met the Ambassadors of the Republic of Austria to Athens, Podgorica, Pristina, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Brussels, headed by Mr. Klaus Wulfer, Head of the Department on Western Balkans and EU Enlargement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Renate Kobler, MA.
President Xhaferi expressed pleasure from the meeting at this favorable moment for the country aspiring to be part of the European Union and to apply the European values that are above all important for all citizens. The Republic of Macedonia has overcome many difficult challenges in the past period, but the country has managed to return to its Euro-integration path and to be dedicated to the commitments that arise from the Euro-Atlantic integrations.
President Xhaferi informed the participants on the activities undertaken from Plan 3-6-9 of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia in the part of the Assembly and underlined that they are at the stage of completion.
In the area of building good neighborly relations, he informed that the Agreement for Friendship, Neighborhood and Cooperation with the Republic of Bulgaria has been ratified in both Parliaments and it has entered into force, and that there is intensification of direct communication between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece about finding a solution to the differences that Greece has with the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia.
Mr. Wulfer expressed his gratitude for the realization of the meeting and underlined that the Delegation is visiting the region in order to be well-informed on the current developments in the wake of the Austrian Presidency of the European Council in July this year. He emphasized the excellent relations and the strong long-standing connections that exist between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Austria, underlining that they follow the current developments in the country with a particular attention. In addition, he congratulated President Xhaferi for the manner of functioning of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia and wished him luck in finding modalities and solutions for a dialogue with the opposition. Mr. Wulfer underlined that the focus of the Western Balkan and its European perspective will remain unchanged, given that Austria and Europe wider want a safe, stable and prosperous region, and within the framework of the Presidency of the Troika through the Declaration they want to reaffirm the European future of the region countries.
President Xhaferi, at the end of the meeting expressed expectation that the Progress Report for 2017 of the European Commission in March this year, will positively asses the progress of the Republic of Macedonia and will contain a clear and unconditional recommendation, with the expectation that by the end of 2018 will be given a date for EU membership.