OREANDA-NEWS. On 25 March 2008 Prime Minister Andrus Ansip met with Nikola Gruevski, Prime Minister of Macedonia. Both Prime Ministers confirmed that, while four to five years ago there were practically no bilateral relations between the two countries, relations today are very good.

Prime Minister Ansip noted that as a Member State of the European Union and NATO, Estonia pays a lot of attention to the West-Balkans as a future partner. According to the Prime Minister, Macedonia is a country with whom Estonia has formed the best relationship in the region. As a supporter of the open doors policy, Estonia supports Macedonia’s aspirations towards the EU and NATO.

“I hope that at the summit to be held next week in Bucharest, Macedonia will receive an invitation to join NATO together with Croatia and Albania,” said Ansip. The Prime Minister added that the presentation of the invitation to join is a decision reached by consensus, made on the basis of activity-based evaluation at the Bucharest summit. According to Ansip, Macedonia has been very successful in its preparations. For example, Macedonia’s expenses on defence already make up more than two per cent of GDP and the country participates in missions, as well.

Prime Minister Ansip also praised the impressive economic development of Macedonia. In Macedonia, which used the Estonian economic model as an example, the inflow of foreign investments has increased as a result of economic reforms. According to the Prime Minister of Macedonia, Estonia is an open cooperation partner in the field of experience in information technology.

Prime Minister Andrus Ansip is on a two-day official visit to Macedonia. The purpose of the visit is to support Macedonia in conducting extensive reforms. Today, Prime Minister Ansip will also meet with Antonio Miloshoski, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Macedonia. Tomorrow, the head of the Estonian government will meet with Branko Crvenkovski, President of the Republic of Macedonia, and Ljubisa Georgievski, Chairman of the Macedonian Parliament.