In a report adopted on April 23, the European Parliament reiterated that Macedonia's bilateral name dispute with Greece should not obstruct the country's EU accession bid.

The report, by Dutch MEP Erik Meijer, was adopted by 601 votes in favour, 52 against and 30 abstentions, according to the European Parliament's website.

The report welcomes the Macedonian government's achievements "in the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement", which deals with the political aspects of inter-ethnic relations in the country, while noting the "continuing discrimination against the Roma community."

The report also welcomed the Macedonian government pledge to rebuild a mosque that was damaged in an otherwise "professional and effective" police operation in Brodec on November 7 2007.

The statement said that MEPs also commended the Macedonian government's economic performance, and the adoption of several crucial laws on prosecutors.

While welcoming the entry into force of the visa facilitation and readmission agreement between the country and the EU, MEPs underline the difficulties citizens still face when trying to enter the EU.

"At the same time, (European Parliament) members regret the signing of a bilateral immunity agreement between the US and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, granting exemption from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court in the Hague, which `contradicts EU standards and policies'," the statement said.

On the name dispute with Greece, the report welcomed the increased bilateral co-operation, as well as people-to-people contacts between Macedonia and Greece.

The report "notes with satisfaction" that, since the adoption of the European Parliament's resolution of July 12 2007, bilateral talks had been held in the region, under the auspices of the United Nations and assisted by special envoy Matthew Nimitz, to find a mutually acceptable solution to the difference that has arisen over the name of Macedonia.

"MEPs note the increased dynamics in the negotiations and call on both sides to seize the opportunity to immediately resume negotiations in light of the important progress made recently and to reach a compromise solution, so that the issue does not continue to represent an obstacle to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's membership of international organisations, as provided for in the Interim Accord of 1995, which is still in force," the statement said.

On April 23, Bulgaria's Focus news agency, quoting Macedonian agency Makfax, said that Greece's largest opposition party PASOK said that there was no geographical qualifier in the name "New Macedonia.

PASOK's statement came after claims by Greece's ruling New Democracy party that "New Macedonia" would meet Greek demands regarding the name of its neighbouring country.

Last week, Greek foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis said that the name "New Macedonia" contained geographical qualifier, adding that Ancient Macedonia was the entire area, while New Macedonia was part of it.

PASOK called on Greek prime minister Costas Karamanlis to "end the gamesmanship" about the geographical qualifier.

Athens said it would accept a compound name containing the word Macedonia as a basis for negotiations on the name dispute.

On April 21, Nato secretary-general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer called on Macedonia to resolve the dispute with Greece so that Macedonia could join Nato along with Albania and Croatia. At the Nato summit in early April, membership invitations were issued to Albania and Croatia, but Greece and others blocked Macedonia's bid because of the name dispute.

The Albanian and Croatian accession agreements are due to be signed on July 9 2008. According to a report by the Associated Press, De Hoop Scheffer said during a visit to the Macedonian capital on Skopje that on July 9, he would like to have "a third nation, yours, at the Nato table".

"It would be your opportunity which you have now until July 9 to see if the solution for the name issue can be found," De Hoop Scheffer said.