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Macedonia to hold parallel talks with EU and Greece, NATO membership without delay - Latvian FM
11. February 2012. | 11:45
Source: MIA
We fully and deeply believe that Macedonia is ready to start membership negotiations with the EU immediately, Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkevics stated after a meeting in Riga on Friday with his Macedonian counterpart Nikola Poposki.
We fully and deeply believe that Macedonia is ready to start membership negotiations with the EU immediately, Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkevics stated after a meeting in Riga on Friday with his Macedonian counterpart Nikola Poposki.
"However, there are obstacles and they do not suggest in any way that Macedonia had failed to meet some of the required membership criteria - they are purely political. We are proposing a model of parallel talks i.e. EU entry talks to be launched with Macedonia, while the country negotiates with Greece about the name issue, Rinkevics said adding that Latvia was hoping that headway would be made in name talks, especially following the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Latvia's Minister also noted that Macedonia had done its homework in meeting NATO membership criteria expressing his hopes that the country would join NATO in due time.
"ICJ has ruled that Macedonia is totally entitled to a seat in the NATO club. Until we join the Alliance, Macedonia will continue acting as a de-facto NATO member and as one of its biggest contributing nations to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan," Poposki stressed.
With respect to the EU, a date for start of accession talks will instill a fresh momentum to the enlargement process after three consecutive recommendations by the European Commission, Poposki said.
Interlocutors discussed bilateral, political and economic relations, especially in the field of tourism.
"We've concluded that there is room for improving business ties, because Macedonia has so much to offer," FM Poposki said.
The two ministers also discussed the security situation in Balkan countries and their EU integration process.
In the course of his visit to Latvia, Poposki met with chairman of the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Ojars Eriks Kalnins and chairman of the group on inter-parliamentary cooperation with Macedonia, Edvards Smiltens for talks on bilateral cooperation and Macedonia's road to NATO and EU.
Moreover, Minister Poposki delivered a lecture at the Riga Stradins University.
"The NATO summit in Chicago will mainly focus on the Alliance's future, Afghan mission, but not on the enlargement process. However, it isn't a hurdle, because at the NATO summit in Bucharest it was decided that Macedonia can join as soon as it closes the issue imposed on Greece about country's name. NATO is necessary to focus on long-term interests - Macedonia's membership is beneficial for NATO, Greece, Macedonia and the entire region. An important message will be conveyed in relation to the credibility of the enlargement process that once you meet criteria, you join the club," FM Poposki said.
Comments (12)
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12. February 2012. 01:15:10
| Ime
3
Message to FYROM and its Diaspora(Greek word) on NATO non-entry in May 2012 in Chicago:
Sometimes, life is not fair
12. February 2012. 01:15:10
| jashiv
3
Let's change our name back to what it was before the communists took over in the 1940s, take down the ancient Greek statues and symbols from our cities and get on with joining NATO and the EU.
12. February 2012. 09:21:12
| Ime
3
hahah..these other 2 comments are from Greeks funny how (jashiv) is trying to pretend he is a Macedonian.
Macedonia for the Macedonians for over 2000 years
you greeks can choke on it!
12. February 2012. 09:21:12
| Kostas Turkogloug
0
Buhahaha We will never allow these Skopiani's to enter NATO. We own the world and they are lying thieves thinking that they are Macedonians. We are superior to you FYROMians and you can suffer with your 200€ salary per month. We are part of the EU brotherhood and are a rich nation. Look how beautiful our country is with great modern infrastructure. Nobody wants third world. Long live Greece!
12. February 2012. 09:21:12
| Macedonia
2
Message to Ime. Don't worry, Macedonia will get in NATO. Defacto membership means that it's already in NATO. It's just not formal. Bit like a defacto relationship to marriage. In the Western World defacto means you have the same rights as marriage if there is a split.
You just get ready for more Arsetearity heading your way. Germany wants you on a platter and Im oh so enjoying the action packed movie you are displaying to the world. Sygmata Square looks like a scene from a Hollywood block buster. You Greeks should charge the world pay per view then you might be able to repay your massive debt. Oh but your politicians will fill their pockets and your back to the Gaza strip style Hellenic fightin'. You will never learn. Opa Opa
Hvala src
12. February 2012. 18:01:30
| Greece prepare
3
Message to all Greeks. Greece will be kicked out of EU. Greece will enter years of depression like a stone age. They will become 3rd world country as Syria, Iraq.... And there application for EU member will never be accepted again.Because they have lied,cheat EU institutions for 30 years and they still continue. They will pray Macedonians and Bulgarians for food. Because of there no reserve currency no gold, there will be no country in the world who will trade with Greek bank and company.
All other countries will continue spending vacation in Greece but this time they will pay with Sugar, vegetable oil and flour for 10 day vacation. Thats how cheap will Greece vacation become.Poor Greeks. Mark my words.
12. February 2012. 18:01:30
| Peter
2
To Kostas Turkogloug;
In Macedonia workers are paid better than in Greece.Just look what Papademos and especialy Samaras has done to Greece.
Samaras distributed $130 million dollars in black garbage bags,can you imagin what he will do with $450 billion EU is giving him and his clique?
Two and a half years ago,I wrote; "Greece has no money to buy boots for its army,yet they are giving to DRof Nigeria 400 used tanks to revers the constitutional recognition of the Republic of Macedonia.Karamanlis purchased $14 billion armaments to protect itself from its neighbors".
Next time,before you critisize others,try and start the engine first before you put the gear on.Of course,you Greeks do it in reverse.
12. February 2012. 18:01:30
| Ime
1
Kostas, you guys done own the world.. Germany owns you. How does it feel to be a slave?
12. February 2012. 18:01:30
| Ime
2
Message to the FYROM natioanlists who harasses Greeks with claims he is "macedonian"... If you bothered to open a history book you'd discover FYROM's ethnic Bulgarian past. You'd also discovered FYROM is located in Paeonia not Macedonia and ancient Macedonians SELF-IDENTIFIED as Greeks
In short, you are blabbering ultra nationalist fanatic that supports fighting Greeks for stupidity. The Greek writing on ancient Macedonians artifacts will never change no matter who bizarrely "recognizes" you. (some of whom are Greek haters that now dishonestly pretend not to notice your irredentism and sudden quick change into "ancient Macedonians")
13. February 2012. 09:22:21
| Ime
1
Greek politician recently commented that Greece will be changing it's name.
True!