Macedonian PM to Meet With Biden, Clinton

Macedonia's strategic goals of joining NATO and the EU will be on the agenda, as well as the ongoing name dispute with neighbouring Greece, both countries have announced.

Macedonian media, however, have written that the meeting reflects US concern over the recent political stalemate in the country prompted by the opposition boycott of parliament.

Some newspapers have noted that this is evidenced by the fact that two top US officials have found the time to meet with Macedonia's premier amidst the overwhelming preoccupation with the events in Egypt and the wave of anti-government protests in the rest of the Arab world.

Officially, both the US and Macedonia insist that Gruevski's visit to the US has been under preparation since last August.

The Macedonian opposition left the parliament on January 28, blaming the conservative Prime Minister Gruevski for instituting a totalitarian-like rule, curbing media freedom, influencing the courts and suppressing protests, and outside observers have grown increasingly concerned about the stalemate.

Ahead of the talks with Biden and Clinton, Gruevski met on Tuesday with the US Assistant State Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon.

Sources from the Macedonian delegation, cited by Voice of America, say that the name dispute was the central issue of discussion.

Greece insists that Macedonia must first change its name if it wishes to enter NATO and the EU. Athens argues that Skopje’s name implies territorial claims against its own northern province, also called Macedonia.

The Macedonian delegation to Washington this week also includes Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki, Ambassador Zoran Jolevski and the prime minister's head of cabinet, Martin Protoger.