Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters

between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union

COUNCIL

OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 7 December 2004

H.E. Mr Sasko STEFKOV,

Ambassador,

Head of the Mission of the former Yugoslav

Republic of Macedonia to the European Communities.

Sir,

I have the honour to propose that, if it is acceptable to your Government, this letter and your confirmation shall together take the place of signature of the Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union.

The text of the aforementioned Protocol, herewith annexed, has been approved for signature and provisional application by a decision of the Council of the European Union on 22 November 2004. In accordance with its Article 16.3, it shall apply provisionally with effect from 1 May 2004.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

For the European Community and its Member States

MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA TO THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 7 December 2004

Dear Sir,

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter SGS4/14231 of today's date regarding the signature of the Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the Republic of Macedonia, of the one part, and the European Communities and their Member States, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union.

I confirm the acceptance by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia of the annexed text of the Protocol and consider your letter and this letter in reply as equivalent of its signature.

However, I declare that the Republic of Macedonia does not accept the denomination used for my country in abovementioned Protocol, having in view that the constitutional name of my country is the Republic of Macedonia.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration,

For the Republic of Macedonia

Ambassador

Saško Stefkov

COUNCIL

OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 7 December 2004

H.E. Mr Sasko STEFKOV,

Ambassador,

Head of the Mission of the former Yugoslav

Republic of Macedonia to the European Communities.

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today's date.

The European Community and its Member States notes that the Exchange of Letters between the European Community and its Member States and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which takes the place of signature of the Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union, has been accomplished and that this cannot be interpreted as acceptance or recognition by the European Community and its Member States in whatever form or content of a denomination other than the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia".

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

For the European Community and its Member States

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