Macedonian Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva met Tuesday with Holy See Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano and Secretary for Relations with States, Monsignor Giovanni Lajolo

Macedonian Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva met Tuesday with Holy See Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano and Secretary for Relations with States, Monsignor Giovanni Lajolo. Mitreva conveyed the greetings and wishes of Macedonian citizens for quick recovery of Pope John Paul II, and an open invitation to the Pope to visit Macedonia. The Macedonian FM expressed gratitude for the openness of the Holy See archives for the needs of Macedonian Academy of Science and Arts' experts, as well as the possibility for a program in Macedonian language at Radio Vatican. Cardinal Sodano stressed Vatican's support to Macedonia on its path to Europe. Furthermore, Monsignor Lajolo assessed that Mitreva's visit was a new impulse for enhancement of bilateral relations, but also an incentive for joint efforts aimed at world peace and progress, adding that Macedonia belonged to Europe. "Macedonia is not a state that only wants something from Europe, but a country that has something to give, its culture and tradition", Lajolo emphasised. "Macedonia expects Italy's further support of its aspirations for the European Union and NATO membership," Mitreva said at a meeting with her Italian counterpart Gianfranco Fini.