Czech President On Visit to Macedonia

While in Skopje, Klaus held talks with his Macedonian counterpart Gjorge Ivanov.

The negotiations between Athens and Skopje over their name dispute should continue as this is the only option for reaching a solution, Klaus said after meeting with Ivanov.

"I agree with Ivanov that an imposed solution that citizens would disagree with is impossible. I say to negotiate as it's ridiculous to wait on somebody else to solve your name dispute," President Klaus added.

For his part, Ivanov said he will call a meeting of the party leaders as soon as there is a new proposal on the table coming from the UN name mediator Matthew Nimetz.

"When such a proposal comes, we should unite the society and reach a unified position. There is nothing to talk about until we get a proposal," he stressed.

Klaus also met with Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, and is expected to meet with several MPs, along with opposition leader Branko Crvenkovski, heads of the country's religious communities, and the mayors of Skopje, Tetovo and Saraj.

Ivanov and Klaus are scheduled to speak at the Macedonian-Czech Business Forum in Skopje. Klaus will also visit the Matka hydro power plant, which is managed by the Czech firm "Hydropol", and Tetovo's University of Southeast Europe.

Delegations from the two countries are expected to sign a cooperation agreement related to education.