Voorzitter van Raad Algemene Zaken Dr. Marcoullis bezoekt Macedonië in verband met uitbreidingsprocedure (en)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr. Erato Kozakou- Marcoullis, visited the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on Monday, November 26, in her capacity as chair of the General Affairs Council of the EU on EU enlargement. Dr. Marcoullis’ visit to the country is part of her round of visits to EU candidate countries and potential candidates in this capacity.

The Cypriot Foreign Affairs Minister met with her counterpart, the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Nikola Poposki, with whom she discussed the country’s European perspective.

Dr. Marcoullis was also received by the President of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Gjorgje Ivanov. She also met with the Deputy Prime-Minister in charge for European Affairs, and member of the Albanian party DUI (Democratic Union for Integration), Ms. Teuta Arifi and with the Head of the EU Delegation, Mr. Aivo Orav.

During her meetings, Dr. Marcoullis reaffirmed the EU's support for the European perspective of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and congratulated the country for the progress achieved so far within the framework of the High Level Accession Dialogue. The Cypriot Minister also encouraged her interlocutors to continue and further intensify the relevant efforts for internal reforms.

Dr. Marcoullis underlined the EU's principled position as regards good neighbourly relations, including the fact that a negotiated and mutually acceptable solution to the name issue, under the UN auspices, remains essential to this end. In this respect, and in view of the General Affairs Council on December 11, Dr. Marcoullis expressed the hope that relevant developments will permit decisive progress as regards the European perspective of the country.