Prime Minister and leader of ruling VMRO-DPMNE Nikola Gruevski held talks Wednesday with Menduh Thaci, leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA).

The meeting focused on forthcoming local elections and Macedonia's European, Euro-Atlantic integration processes.

PM Gruevski and Mr. Thaci voiced their pledge and commitment to organizing fair, free and democratic local elections for which necessary conditions would be provided. They agreed that the conduct of local elections in a democratic atmosphere and the respect of standards, procedures presented an obligation for each political party, while the positive evaluation of the elections' organization by the parties would bear significance for the country's European, Euro-Atlantic integration processes.

At the meeting, PM Gruevski referred to ongoing reforms for meeting the European standards, notifying Macedonia-EU high-level accession dialogue and the country's commitment to settling the open issue with Greece. PM Gruevski and Mr. Thaci agreed that Macedonia's accession to NATO and EU was the country's strategic goal and all political parties should contribute to its realization in a constructive, responsible manner.

Mr. Thaci said he told PM Gruevski that his party would request early parliamentary elections if it defeated DUI even by one vote at the local ones.

The Government is responsible for the local elections to be democratic and fair, as it has at its disposal all of the instruments to that effect, Mr. Thaci told reporters after the meeting.

Mr. Thaci said he and PM Gruevski did not agree on many issues, but shared a common stand that Macedonia's European, Euro-Atlantic integration processes had to be a priority for all political parties.

This is the first formal Gruevski-Thaci meeting in five years.  Their parties made up the governmental coalition for two years after the 2006 parliamentary elections.