The visit is part of the continuing intensive ties at political and economic level, while Erjavec will also reiterate Slovenia support to Macedonia's efforts on the path towards the EU and NATO, the Foreign Ministry said Monday.

Erjavec will meet his host, counterpart Nikola Poposki, as well as Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanovski and Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.

Macedonia, which has been experiencing a prolonged political crisis, is hoping to start accession negotiations with the EU this year.

It has been a membership candidate since December 2005, setting the date for the launch of talks has however proved elusive, mostly because of the unresolved name dispute with Greece.