Erhard Busek, Stability Pact special coordinator for Southeastern Europe, will be an advisor to the Macedonian Government for the reforms needed for achieving the European standards and for foreign policy, "Dnevnik" reports.

This was agreed at yesterday's meeting between Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and Erhard Busek, which was held in the building of the Macedonian Government.

"I proposed to the Stability Pact special coordinator for Southeastern Europe that he be adviser to the Government and prime minister of the Republic of Macedonia," Gruevski said after the meeting with Busek. He stressed that Busek could help greatly in Macedonia's accession to the EU as former vice chancellor, mayor of Vienna, and minister in the Austrian Government who participated directly in the negotiations for Austria's entry into the EU.

Gruevski is convinced that Busek would provide significant assistance in bringing Macedonia closer to the EU.

Expressing gratitude for Macedonia's support for the transformation of the Stability Pact, special coordinator Busek said that he, as advisor to the Government, would use all his power and connections to stimulate the development of Macedonia.

"I will encourage citizens to support the Government's efforts for accession to the EU. I will advise them to not insist on a date for start of the negotiations for membership, but to concentrate on fulfilling the criteria for membership in the European Union. The closer you are to fulfilling the criteria, the closer you will be to the EU," Busek said.