site.btaVice President Iotova Confers with Macedonian Prime Minister Zaev

Skopje, December 15 (BTA) - Bulgarian Vice President Iliana Iotova conferred with Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and called for the Treaty of Good-neighborliness to be ratified by the parliaments of the two countries as soon as possible, the Presidential Press Secretariat said on Friday. Iotova was in Macedonia on a visit which also took her to Greece on Friday.

Iotova expressed heartfelt congratulations for what has been achieved and said this move has won many supporters in Bulgaria. However, she added, there is yet a lot of work ahead.

The Vice President wished Macedonia to receive a date for launch of EU accession negotiations in the new year.

In turn, Zaev expressed gratitude for Bulgaria's support for his country's EU and NATO membership ambitions. "The Treaty of Good-neigborliness has given us hope that we will find a solution of the country's name with Greece," he noted.

The Macedonian Prime Minister presented the reforms on which his Government has focused, the most important of which is the judicial system.

"The Treaty of Good-neighborliness is a prime example of how something good can happen in the Balkans," Robert Popovski, Minister without Portfolio in the Government of the Republic of Macedonia in charge of Communications, Accountability, and Transparency noted in turn.

Earlier in the day Yotova conferred with the Speaker of the Macedonian Assembly, Talat Xhaferi, who explained that the ratification of the agreement will be delayed because the opposition boycotts plenary meetings. "It would be good if a maximum number of MPs take part in the ratification," he said, adding that this will happen by end-January next year at latest.

Zaev was more optimistic, saying this coul be done by the end of this year.