Foreign Minister Ivanov: The talks with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia have just ended. They were devoted to discussing the situation in Macedonia, in the Balkans and some other international problems.

The problem of a stabilization in Macedonia has important international significance. The overall atmosphere in the Balkans largely depends on the success of this process. Over the past year the Macedonian leadership, with international assistance, has been able to do a lot in the interests of stabilizing the situation and we welcome this. At the same time, there lie ahead quite a few things to do in the interests of making these processes irreversible. And the international community must continue providing all the necessary assistance to the Macedonian leadership in this respect.

Russia fully supports the efforts of the government of the Republic of Macedonia, aimed at preserving the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the unitary nature of the state.

At the negotiations we attached considerable attention to issues of development of bilateral cooperation. Now that the political situation in Macedonia is stabilizing, favorable opportunities are opening up for this and they should be taken advantage of. We have examined a number of concrete areas in which such cooperation can be the most promising. This is in the first place the energy sector. In February this year there will be a meeting between the co-chairmen of the Intergovernmental Russian-Macedonian Commission on Trade, Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, which will examine further steps to stimulate bilateral cooperation. I repeat that it is, above all, in the trade and economic area.

We have also agreed to continue consultations through our ministries for foreign affairs. These consultations will concern the strengthening and development of the contractual-legal basis for our relations and discussion of different international topical issues.

Question: What measures has Russia proposed to settle the situation in the Balkans?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: As for the situation in the Balkans, there is a number of issues that have their own resolution dynamics. I mean the situation in Kosovo that must be settled in accordance with Resolution 1244, the situation in Bosnia that requires further international effort in accordance with the Dayton accords, further effort to stabilize the situation in Macedonia.

Russia thinks it is useful at certain point to hold an international conference on security in the Balkans in general. This conference should result in the obligations of the parties concerned to respect internationally recognized borders and the adoption of other measures to ensure stability in the region. On the whole, the initiative of holding such a conference has been supported by the countries in the region. However, before it can be held it will be necessary to create appropriate conditions and to choose the proper timing.

Question: Is there a concrete plan of Russian breakthrough in the Balkans, a concrete Russian economic plan?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: There is no any special plan of breakthrough in the Balkans. But we do have plans of bilateral cooperation with each of the Balkan states that take into account our bilateral interests. With some countries we have reached considerable progress in trade and economic cooperation. With other countries we are conducting negotiations. As for Macedonia, today we discussed specifically the possibility of cooperation in the energy sector. This also concerns gas, oil and power engineering. We also discussed the possibility of Russian companies' participation in privatization processes that the Macedonian government plans to commence. These issues will be discussed in detail at the upcoming meeting of the co-chairmen of the Russian-Macedonian Intergovernmental Commission.

Question: You had telephone conversations with some of your foreign colleagues.

What was the reaction to Russian proposals regarding the settlement of the situation around North Korea?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: In the course of our contacts with many countries, the general view is that it is necessary to look for a political and diplomatic solution to the Korean issue. This is of paramount importance. We presented our proposals. However, there are also other ideas. We are now studying them closely. I would not rule out that Russia's special representative may travel to the region within days to continue consultations both with Pyongyang and other concerned parties. But I repeat, it is of paramount importance that there is a high degree of coincidence in views that this complex situation may be settled only by diplomatic methods, through a political settlement. On this basis Russia is ready to cooperate with all countries that are willing to contribute to this search.

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