The planned strategic objectives related to Macedonia's Euro Atlantic integration have not been achieved; the political parties from both the Government and opposition did not rise to the occasion; and the social picture worsened. Thus, we can say that this year was unsuccessful, Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski assessed yesterday in his traditional annual address to the nation before the parliamentarians in the Assembly.

He stressed that the set objectives – date for start of the negotiations with the EU and fulfillment of the criteria necessary for the country to receive an invitation for membership in NATO – were not achieved. Crvenkovski believes that the Government wasted precious time on issues like the assembly Rules of Procedure and the Law on State Holidays, instead of concentrating on the obligations pertaining to Macedonia's integration into NATO and the EU.