Latvian Foreign Minister welcomes the rapid pace of reforms in former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

On 22 February Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maris Riekstins, at the end of his visit to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia stated that their achievements in transatlantic integration issues is rapidly bringing the former Yugoslav Republic closer to NATO and the EU. 

During the meeting with the President of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Branko Crvenkovski, attention was paid mainly to the NATO summit planned for April in Bucharest. Both parties discussed the recognition of the independence of Kosovo and the situation in Serbia.

While meeting with the Prime Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Nikola Gruevski, Mr Riekstins expressed support for the state's Euro-Atlantic integration efforts. The Latvian Foreign Minister also advised of Latvia's readiness to share its experience in EU and NATO integration. Both parties agreed on the need to strengthen bilateral relations and exchange visits by high level officials.

During talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Milosovski, Mr Riekstins emphasised that Latvia supports the NATO open-door policy and believes that the NATO meeting of Heads of State and Governments in Bucharest must become the summit of enlargement of the alliance. The Latvian Foreign Minister also expressed the hope that the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will successfully continue the reforms already started. One of the topics of discussion was the issue of the name of the state: the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Latvian side expressed the hope that Greece and FYROM will find an acceptable way to resolve this issue by way of negotiations.

Minister Riekstins met also with the FYROM Deputy Minister of Defence, Iljaz Halimi, to discuss the reform process of his country's armed forces and their readiness for participation in the North Atlantic Alliance, assessing Macedonia's contribution to international peace keeping missions. 

During the visit the Latvian Foreign Minister opened the Latvian Honorary Consulate in Stip. The Honorary Consul appointed to this state is Zranco Mitrovski. The opening of the Honorary Consulate will promote cooperation between educational and cultural institutions, as well as business people of the two countries.

The main objective of the week-long working visit of Minister Riekstins to the NATO associate states in the Western Balkan region was to learn of the situation in Croatia, Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and the process of implemented reforms in relation to the anticipated NATO meeting of Heads of State and Government in Bucharest.

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