Canada to continue supporting Macedonia as regards NATO membership.

A delegation of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, headed by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and including Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki, paid a visit to Canada between 25 and 28 August year 2009, where they met with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. During the visit, Prime Minister Gruevski also met with Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada; Noel Kinsella, Speaker of the Canadian Senate; Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defense of Canada; and Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade of Canada.

The Canadian authorities stressed in the talks with their Macedonian guests that Canada would continue to support Macedonia as regards membership in NATO. "Canada has supported us so far. Following this meeting, I am firmly convinced that it will continue to support us strongly as regards NATO membership and in all other situations in which we might need support," Gruevski said following the meeting with his Canadian counterpart.

Further development of the bilateral relations in all spheres, especially the economy, was also discussed. The possibilities for investment in Macedonia were presented and the need for signing agreements on protection of investments and avoiding double taxation was stressed. The Macedonian state officials also asked their Canadian hosts to consider the possibility of canceling visas for Macedonian citizens.

Prime Ministers Gruevski and Harper also signed a Social Security Agreement, which enables the citizens of the two countries, especially the large number of Macedonians that live in Canada, to exercise their pension and disability insurance rights in both countries. During the visit to Ottawa, Foreign Minister Milososki also held a separate meeting with Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The government delegation also visited Toronto, where they held a meeting with representatives of the Macedonian diaspora, participated in a business forum, and attended the marking of the Orthodox holiday Dormition of the Mother of God.