Tuesday, 1 November 2011
MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA AND THE PARLIAMENTARY GROUP FOR COOPERATION WITH THE SOUTH-EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FROM THE GERMAN BUNDESTAG
The President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia had a meeting with the Parliamentary Group for Cooperation with the South-East European Countries from the German Bundestag , headed by Mr. Peter Weiβ, MP from the CDU, and comprised of Ms. Uta Zapf, MP from the SDP and Ms. Marieluise Beck, MP from Union90/ Green Party.
At the beginning of the meeting, the President Veljanoski expressed his pleasure from the opportunity to meet the Delegation from a friendly country which has always encountered the Republic of Macedonia. The President Veljanoski underlined that the parliamentary cooperation is important since it easily opens the doors between the states and the nations, hence, the meetings of the representatives of the parliaments are especially important. In this context, the President Veljanoski extended an invitation his colleague, the Speaker of the German Bundestag, Mr. Robert Lammert to visit the Republic of Macedonia.
The President Veljanoski, referring to the three consecutive positive EC progress Reports on the Republic of Macedonia , as well as to the reforms in the political and economic sector, stated that these reforms are not important only because they are mandatory, but also, because they have positive influence on the citizens and the state, which after the membership in the European Union will be equal member of the Union, fulfilling its rights and obligation, but also, benefiting from the Union. Regarding the Doing Business Report , in which the Republic of Macedonia is listed as 3rd reformer in the world, the President Veljanoski, underlined that this is a positive impulse for the investors from the region, Europe and wider. Besides the reforms, the efforts in the interethnic relations and the building of the good neighborly relations, one obstacle remains on the path of the Republic of Macedonia to the EU and NATO- the imposed name issue with our Southern neighbor. The Republic of Macedonia implements all the reforms, actively participates in the peace keeping missions and large number of the citizens support the membership of the Republic of Macedonia in the EU and NATO.
Mr. Weiβ, extending the best wishes of the Speaker Lammert, underlined that both states should work on strengthening the parliamentary diplomacy. Underlining the importance of the remarks of the Progress Report, Mr. Weiβ, underlined that Germany follows the developments in the solution of the name issue and that he understood the disappointment of the Macedonian citizens after the Bucharest Summit. He underlined that one of the possibilities is every country to do its best to find a mutually acceptable solution, and the other possibility is the solution to be reached until the finalization of the accession negotiations between the Republic of Macedonia and the European Union.
Mr. Weiβ, agreed with the President Veljanoski that the membership in the European family brings rights and obligations, but those who are responsible are appreciated members of the family.