(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, 4 JUNE - Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev met the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, today in Brussels. During a joint press point, Zaev made an appeal to EU leaders to open the accession negotiations with Skopje. "We are ready to start negotiations" to join the European Union, now the EU leaders "must do their part, the decision must be based on merit and facts, we have shown respect for our tasks", he said.

"We have shown that we have a spirit of compromise, necessary to be part of the EU", stressed Zaev, recalling the efforts made by Skopje in the last year to implement internal reforms and resolve bilateral disputes with Athens and Sofia "in a European manner".

"We do not intend to become immediately part of the EU, but we want to contribute positively to the Union as a candidate country", stressed Zaev, adding that sometimes the countries that want to join the EU "believe in European values more than some Member States", and "if the EU continues to encourage us by giving us the opportunities we deserve, we will continue to work and have even more courage". (ANSA).