Free visa regime for Macedonia by yearend if it organizes successful elections

Berlin, February 12  – Macedonia has great opportunity to join NATO, the European Union and get free visa regime by yearend, but the realization of these objectives depend substantially on the organization of forthcoming elections, German Foreign Office Minister of State Guenther Gloser said Thursday in Berlin after meeting Vice-Premier for European Affairs Ivica Bocevski.

– An organization of democratic, fair elections and overall political climate in Macedonia will send a good message to Europe, Gloser said.

Macedonia has made substantial progress and if the country organizes successful elections it may expect lifting of the visa requirements by the yearend, Gloser said.

He also appealed to Macedonia and Greece to settle the name dispute under the UN aegis as soon as possible, because the matter is of crucial importance.

– It is an honor to hear that Macedonia may count on the German support of its Euro-integration process. It also refers to the confirmation of the Western Balkans’ European perspective, Bocevski said.

Later today, Bocevski is also scheduled to meet Justice Ministry State Secretary Lutz Diwell.