U.S. DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE VISITS MACEDONIA

January 17, 2012

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Ambassador Philip T. Reeker will visit Macedonia this week arriving late January 17, and departing the morning of January 19, as part of his visit to the region. During his visit to Skopje, DAS Reeker and Ambassador Wohlers will meet with President Gjorgi Ivanov, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, Deputy Prime Minister Teuta Arifi, Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, Defense Minister Fatmir Besimi, and other political leaders.  The Deputy Assistant Secretary’s visit is one of several he has made to the region to assess the situation in the countries of South Central Europe that comprise his portfolio.  His discussions will include recent domestic and international political developments, U.S. – Macedonian bilateral relations, regional stability, and Macedonia’s Euro-Atlantic integration process.  DAS Reeker is also visiting Kosovo, Serbia and Turkey during this trip.

After the meeting with Prime Minister Gruevski on January 18, DAS Reeker will speak to the media from 15:45 to 16:00 at the Government building.