Paet Reaffirms Support for Macedonia's EU, NATO Bids
At a meeting with his Macedonian counterpart, Nikola Poposki, in Tallinn on February 8, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet confirmed Estonia’s support for the Balkan country’s drive to join the European Union and NATO.
“Macedonia’s future is with the European Union, and in order to begin the accession process Macedonia must continue carrying out reforms,” Paet said in a Foreign Ministry statement.
Paet also brought up the name dispute between Macedonia - officially known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - and its southern neighbor, noting that the spat was hindering accession in both international organizations.
“Macedonia’s name conflict with Greece must be resolved quickly so that the country’s integration with the EU and NATO can continue,” Paet said.
The meeting between the two ministers took place at the start of Poposki's two-day working visit to Estonia. On February 9, he is scheduled to open Macedonia’s honorary consulate in Tartu.
Steve Roman