Top diplomats of five west Balkan countries have gathered in Macedonia to step up efforts to join in NATO and the EU.

Foreign ministers and deputy foreign ministers from the Albania, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia-Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina started a two-day meeting on Friday in Ohrid, south of Macedonia, China Radio International reported Sunday.

They agree that the regular meeting of foreign ministers is a new mechanism for participating into the European affairs and merging between Europe and Atlantic region.

The ministers also believe that the west Balkan has good reason to get political and economic support from the EU countries because of its increasing regional cooperation.

French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier has been invited to the event and confirmed France's commitment to helping the Balkan states in their integration into NATO and the EU.

Source: CRI