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 ---pagebreak--- L 388/4 PT Jornal Oficial da União Europeia 29.12.2004 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 abovementi- oned 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