REGION: Macedonia and BiH have no Open Issues; Common Goal - EU Integration

Bilateral relations between Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are very good, there are no open issues. However, economic cooperation must be intensified, stated Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki after meeting his Bosnian counterpart Sven Alkalaj in Sarajevo on Monday.

Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina share common goals - European and Euro-Atlantic integration. At an informal EU meeting, which was held in Cordoba under the auspices of Spain's presidency, Macedonia - being a state in the Balkan region and as EU candidate country with visa liberalisation - had a strong position. In terms of EU integration and reforms being implemented by BiH, EU has the right to grant visa liberalisation to BiH as soon as possible, said Milososki.

With regard to EU integration in the region, FM Milososki said that the Sarajevo EU meeting, scheduled to take place on 20 June, offered an additional opportunity for emphasising Bosnia's significance involving stability of the region and the importance of European integration.
Both ministers announced a possibility for signing a protocol on mutual assistance in the field of EU integration in an attempt to exchange Macedonia's experiences in the field with Bosnian institutions.

Milososki noted that in the course of Macedonia's chairmanship with the Council of Europe between May and November 2010, Macedonia would have good communication with BiH institutions in order to assist the country in harmonising its reforms with European standards.

Given regional ties, the two foreign ministers agreed that the issue surrounding succession of the property of former Yugoslavia should be settled as soon as possible in favour of all former republics and finally the agreement to be enforced in practice.

The Bosnian foreign minister said Macedonia and BiH were mutually interested in continuous development and improvement of bilateral ties.

We support constructive cooperation to confirm the political position as well that it is possible multi-ethnic countries to function in Southeastern Europe, stressed Alkalaj.
Answering a journalist question on the issue arising from the growing number of asylum seekers from Macedonia to European countries, Milososki responded that majority of the Macedonian citizens were using the visa liberalisation with good will and that the occurring separate "incidents" could be easily overcome. Macedonia had concluded readmission agreements with EU countries before obtaining visa liberalisation.

The visa liberalisation has confirmed that Macedonia has the capacity to be part of the visa-free European zone. It is a double benefit both for Macedonian citizens and the Union itself, which has greater control over data and movement of people, Milososki said.

Asked when Macedonia would join NATO, the FM said the country was expecting to become a member because it had met all the necessary criteria.
It is expected Macedonia to become a rightful member in a time when conditions will be enabled for a peaceful and democratic state to join the Alliance, stated Milososki.
In terms of the name issue, FM Milososki said Macedonia was resuming its constructive role in the name talks, adding that each party should voice its stance. He noted that in March UN mediator Matthew Nimetz would once again convene the representatives of Macedonia and Greece for another round of negotiations.
FM Milososki in Sarajevo will also meet with Chairman of the B&H Presidency Haris Silajdzic, Council of Ministers Chairman Nikola Spiric, Minister of Finance and Treasury Dragan Vrankic and top officials of the B&H Parliamentary Assembly.

Source: www.vlada.mk