Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki held separate meetings Friday in Ljubljana with his Slovenian counterpart Karl Erjavec, President Danilo Turk, Prime Minister Janez Jansa and Parliament Speaker Gregor Virant.

Poposki and Erjavec expressed satisfaction with the excellent bilateral relations, based on partnership, friendship and close cooperation in all spheres of social life, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.

Poposki extended gratitude for Slovenia's sincere, continuous support of Macedonia at both bilateral, multilateral relations, which was also reaffirmed at recent NATO Summit in Chicago. He briefed his colleague on the high-level dialogue between the Macedonian Government and the European Commission - an instrument for speeding up the country's progress to the EU accession talks, as well as recognition of its readiness to that effect.

Erjavec reiterated Slovenia's support of Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic integration processes and appropriate evaluation of its achievements, reforms on that road. It will be rather significant for the region's stability and favorable message to other aspirants for EU membership, Erjavec said.

Poposki-Turk meeting focused on bolstering the economic ties and trade exchange in line with the close political relations. The two agreed that Macedonia deserved to join NATO and start the EU accession negotiations, something that Slovenia will keep supporting, the press release reads.

Jansa said Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic integration was one of the priorities of Slovenian foreign policy.

Poposki and Virant underlined the significance of parliamentary cooperation for the development of overall bilateral relations.

Today, Poposki is also scheduled to give a lecture at the 'Joze Pucnik' Institute and the Faculty for European Studies. Furthermore, he will attend the celebration of the 20th anniversary of 'Ss. Cyril and Methodius' - the largest association of Macedonian nationals living in Slovenia.