Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski told Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann at Monday's meeting in Vienna that EU leaders should find a way to give Macedonia an opportunity to start accession negotiations in parallel with talks over the bilateral name row with Greece.

"I stressed that now is the time to contemplate once again and find ways by EU leaders to give the country an opportunity to start negotiations", said PM Gruevski after the meeting.

Austrian Chancellor Faymann stressed that throughout EU's history most of countries had an open bilateral dispute with members when joining the Union, but no country was blocked prior to the start of accession negotiations.

"This method was applied with success until the Macedonia case, which represents a precedent and does not yield good results. It is obvious that parallel talks provide much better prospects for the bilateral dispute, compared to the way in which Macedonia has been blocked for three years running, thus creating negative energy, frustration and other problems", emphasized Gruevski.

He referred to Macedonia's achievements in diverse fields, adding that the country is focused on the shortcomings noted in the EC Progress Report, but also expects certain EU acknowledgement of the efforts.

"An overwhelming majority of all ethnic communities in Macedonia want a sooner start of accession negotiations. The delay of this process creates frustrations among all citizens, since no other country has been told to solve a certain bilateral dispute with an EU member in this way", emphasized PM Gruevski.

Austria, he said, is a country demonstrating significant interest for progress of the SEE region, and I believe that the country will continue to provide support to Macedonia.

The meeting also tackled the asylum applications by Macedonian nationals in European countries, with Gruevski saying Macedonia is committed to the issue of false asylum seekers.

"We remain vigilant and work on preventing the recurrence of certain episodes from the recent past", he added.

Gruevski and Waymann also referred to economic affairs and Macedonia's low GDP debt.

"We have a 26-percent GDP debt, which is one of the lowest in Europe, but the eurozone debt crisis poses problems in the fields of export and the real sector", said the Macedonian PM.

In addition, Gruevski stressed the Macedonian Stock Exchange was interested in investments by the Austrian counterpart institution, whereas the Government would support such process.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski received late Monday the prestigious award for contribution to national and regional economic development in countries-members of the Vienna Economic Forum.

The award is presented to individuals who contributed to the economic promotion of their country and the region through successfully administered policies reflecting the goals of the Vienna Economic Forum, MIA reports.

In the forum address, PM Gruevski stressed that the vision of common present and future in the great European and Euro-Atlantic family remains Macedonia's top political and economic priority, representing an enormous benefit for the general prosperity of the region and beyond.

He stressed the Government's commitment to the country's faster economic development and referred to the fact that majority of the foreign exchange is realized with EU and Western Balkan countries.

"With regards to the macroeconomic indicators, Republic of Macedonia has a stable policy with strengthened financial regulations. One of the important macroeconomic benefits is the low inflation rate, which amounted to two percent in the last decade, achieved primarily due to the disciplined macroeconomic policies and the fixed foreign exchange rate. In addition, Macedonia has balanced public finances with low budget deficit, as well as a low public debt  amounting to approximately 25 percent of the GDP. Macedonia achieved an average GDP growth of 5.2 percent in the first half of 2011", said PM Gruevski.

He added that the country has the easiest, cheapest and fastest company registration procedure, 10-percent flat tax rates, gradual lowering of social contributions, as well as simplification of business regulations.

"GDP growth and foreign direct investments come as a result of the comprehensive reforms for improvement of the general business climate", underlined Gruevski in the address.

In the framework of the visit to Austria, PM Gruevski will hold meetings late Monday at the Federation of Austrian Industry. Investment opportunities will be presented Tuesday at the Macedonian-Austrian business forum. Gruevski is also scheduled to meet with President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Christoph Leitl.