It is in Macedonia's interest a government to be formed in Greece that is sincerely committed to settling the bilateral dispute it was imposed by the neighboring country, Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki said at a press briefing on Tuesday.

"It is exceptionally crucial for Macedonia to have a representative and committed partner and interlocutor in Greece. Following the Greek elections, any given situation not resulting in an adequate interlocutor without an interest in solving the name row would be an obstacle. There wouldn't be a need to make a distinction between one, another or third political power in Greece that would be at the helm in the next government. Macedonia for a very long time is faced with the issue and we have dealt with center-left and center-right government without having any chances to solve the issue. More often the country has been addressing unjustified blockades," Poposki said when asked about his expectations regarding the name dispute unless the leftist parties in Greece formed a government.

Asked if a political crisis was generated in parallel with the financial crisis largely due to failed attempts for forming a government, Macedonia with its homework done could obtain an additional argument for the international community to exert pressure for extending a NATO membership invitation and start of EU accession talks, FM Poposki stressed that the bilateral issue would not be seen as a priority in the existing complicated situation.

"Such extended situation in Greece wouldn't be useful for us in any way, because there wouldn't be any motive to boost efforts in solving the name dispute," Poposki said.

Considering NATO, he elaborated that Macedonia had met the criteria and was acting like a member, whereas the issue of Macedonia's membership was of bureaucratic nature. In the view of EU, the FM said, the main benefit of the high-level accession dialogue is to generate and meet the goals ourselves, thus enabling us to address the challenges on the road to EU integration as soon as possible regardless of the years-long blockade.

Commenting the upcoming NATO summit in Chicago, Poposki reiterated that the main focus would be on Afghanistan, not on the enlargement process. "Macedonia's strongest argument is its participation in ISAF. The NATO membership is not tied to a summit, it can take place at any given meeting of the North-Atlantic pact."

Referring to yesterday's protests in Tirana and Sofia, FM Poposki said there was a need in the region of events sending signals for favorable cross border cooperation. "I wouldn't give any significance to the protests."

"Macedonia shares a wide area of cooperation and joint interests with both Albania and Bulgaria. I don't think these events should be treated with great significance. We have to point out all of the areas having great foundation for cooperation. The fact that Bulgaria, as a member of NATO and EU, can support Macedonia's integration bid and that we have an excellent cooperation with Albania is a potent signal for our region that we are heading toward Europe," Poposki stressed.

The minister at the press briefing also spoke about his visits to the United States and Israel and the meeting with UN chief Ban Ki-moon. His next destinations include Belgium, Luxembourg and Turkey.