"Russia must understand NATO and EU have no alternative"

MAcedonian PM Zoran Zaev says Russia should be aware that Macedonia has no alternative but full membership in NATO and the EU, the Focus website reported.

Zaev said this at a joint press conference with EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn in Skopje, when a journalist asked him to comment on the reaction of the Russian Foreign Ministry in connection with allegations that Russian businessmen were involved in the destabilization of Macedonia.

The Macedonian prime minister added that Macedonia's strategic goal is cooperation with Russia.

"We are a small country and we will work on friendship with our neighbors and all the countries in the world, which is why today is an important historical moment, because we are starting the screening process of EU accession. I am happy and grateful that Hahn and his team attended the session of our government. M;acedonia has waited for this since 2005. This should be motivation for us and for the entire Macedonian society," Zaev said after the government session.