The U.S. State Department has said the possible decoupling of the EU accession negotiations with Macedonia and Albania should be referred to the countries in question and the EU.

Asked by MIA whether the United States agrees to separate the process for Albania to start pre-accession talks with the EU in June, and Macedonia to stay due to the blockade of Bulgaria, State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a briefing last night that countries in the EU decide on that.

We have bilateral partnerships with the countries in question, as well as with the EU, and in this regard it is better to address the question to these countries and the EU, Price said.