The USA is going to continue to support strongly the UN process for resolution of the name dispute so Macedonia may take its deserved place in NATO and the EU, said US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland after meeting Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski in Skopje on Monday. She also said the enlargement remained one of NATO's priorities, which was particularly true for Macedonia.

"The US strongly supports Macedonia and I was very pleased to hear today about the reforms the Government is carrying out and planning. Your prime minister confirmed that your engagement in Afghanistan will continue together with our own which is a forceful signal that Macedonia is an exporter of security," she said.

In regard to the political situation in Macedonia, she said the US supported the vision of an integrated Macedonia in which the Macedonian and Albanian communities live together in peace and prosperity.

"This takes hard work and understanding from both sides. The prime minister revealed some of his plans in this regard and we feel encouraged by the efforts of both communities to work together and establish standards for the region. Peace, security, harmony, interethnic cooperation and unity are the things that make Macedonia strong," Ms. Nuland added.