Despite the political differences that we had in the past and still have now, we feel responsibility to cooperate and do our best to get the country back on the right track, the one-time fierce enemies, Branko Crvenkovski and Ljubco Georgievski, leaders of SDSM and VMRO-NP respectively, said at their long announced meeting Thursday. Many analysts agree with them yet just as many argue that their alliance could cut both ways, Den reports.

Georgievski and I have been fierce opponents over the past 20 years. We have had conflicting view on many issues and have fought difficult political battles. However, there have also been situations, such as the independence referendum in 1991, the adoption of the first Constitution as well as the conflict of 2001 when we had no other option but to cooperate. Macedonia faces today just as difficult challenges as it did back in 1991 and 2001. Therefore, we feel responsible to do everything we can to restore the country on the right track,” Crvenkovski said after meeting Georgievski at the Aleksandar Palace Hotel in Skopje.