The informal meeting of the EU foreign ministers in the Polish resort of Sopot is an excellent opportunity where candidate countries were included to exchange opinions and positions on issues, which were main preoccupation on EU level. This opportunity for us is significantly useful as we can be shown as constructive participant in building positions of EU foreign policy.

Foreign Affairs Minister Nikola Poposki said this Saturday after the meeting, who participated upon an invitation by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, and his Polish counterpart Radosław Sikorski, MIA reports.

He said that he held informal talks with Greek FM Stavros Lambrinidis. – We held significantly useful bilateral talks with several EU member states (Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Austria, Italy and Romania) and chance to exchange our positions and views on issues which are important for the region and possibility Macedonia to be part of successful wave which will come by end of this or the beginning of the next year at the same time by fulfilling our goal for start of EU entry talks.

The main topic of discussion at bilateral meetings was Macedonia’s admission in the EU, Poposki underlined.

- We have been understood for the fact that we are candidate country for longer period and that European Commission presents conclusion for several years that we are ready to start negotiation process and I think that member states agree with this and they support us by giving positive examples and motivation for additional efforts in reforms, Poposki said.

On journalist question what is Macedonia’s position in regard to global issues as the situation in Syria and request for recognition of the Palestinian state, he said that Macedonia follows these courses. – At this point there is no text of resolution which is closed, based on this the Macedonian position will be built, which will be in line with EU position and in accordance of views of our strategic partners, Poposki said.

Ministers at he meeting moved to intensify pressure on Syria by banning oil imports from the country, measures which came as President Bashar al-Assad’s troops fired again on anti-government protesters. The EU upstepped its pressures on Belarus and the Ukraine. The former is requested to guarantee more political openings and the latter a fair trial to former Premier Yulia Tymoshenko.