My predecessor, Deputy Andrews, visited the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on 19 and 20 January. During his visit Deputy Andrews had a meeting with the Macedonian Foreign Minister Aleksandar Dimitrov and paid courtesy calls on the Prime Minister, the Vice-President of the National Assembly and the President. The visit by Deputy Andrews was the first official visit by an Irish Foreign Minister to FYROM.
The visit took place at the end of an extensive visit by Deputy Andrews to the region and provided an opportunity for an exchange of views on developments in the Balkans generally, including in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina and progress in the implementation of the stability pact. They also discussed enhancement of bilateral relations particularly in the economic area and the overall relationship between the EU and FYROM. Deputy Andrews also raised with his counterpart Ireland's candidacy for the UN Security Council and was gratified by the public statement of support for our candidacy made to the press following the meeting by Mr. Dimitrov.
The major issue of concern to the Macedonian side at the time of the visit was agreement in Brussels on the mandate for the negotiation of a stability and association agreement between the EU and Macedonia. This was raised by all four interlocutors and the Minister assured his hosts of Ireland's support for Macedonia. I am pleased to be able to report that the mandate was subsequently agreed at the General Affairs Council on 24 January and Deputy Andrews phoned Foreign Minister Dimitrov to convey this information to him. This will be the first such agreement to be concluded with a former Yugoslav state and will provide the basis for a programme of assistance from the EU to Macedonia.