ZAGREB, Nov 24 (Hina) - The European Union and Macedonia initialled an Agreement on Stabilisation and Association at the end of the Zagreb Summit on Friday.
ZAGREB, Nov 24 (Hina) - The European Union and Macedonia initialled
an Agreement on Stabilisation and Association at the end of the
Zagreb Summit on Friday. #L#
Macedonia is the first country to sign such an agreement with the
European Union. EU representatives and Croatian government
officials earlier in the day officially marked the beginning of
talks between Croatia and the EU on the conclusion of such an
agreement.
Macedonian Prime Minister Ljupco Georgievski said today's
initialling ceremony was a historical event not only for Macedonia,
which sees its integration in the EU as a priority in its foreign
policy, but also for the EU, which, by signing an agreement of this
kind, gives the Balkan countries a European prospect for the first
time.
I am confident that Macedonia will offer a good example of
neighbourly cooperation, economic development and inter-ethnic
cooperation. We fully accept regional cooperation because we are
aware that the EU will be assessing each country individually and
that it will not wait for those lagging behind, Georgievski said.
European Union's Commissioner for foreign affairs, Chris Patten,
with whom Georgievski exchanged a letter on the end of the talks,
said the implementation of the Agreement would be a major challenge
but hoped it would be concluded successfully.
(hina) jn rml