It would be folly to accept a compromise name for Macedonia, with a geographic qualifier, if this was intended for wider international use, Macedonian President Georgi Ivanov says.
“Greece has no legal means to force Macedonia to do so”, Ivanov was quoted by daily Dnevnik as saying.
Macedonia backs the so-called dual name formula for resolving the naming row with neighbouring Greece, he said. This formula, which has been rejected by Athens, envisages the use of Skopje’s current official name, Republic of Macedonia, internationally, and of a mutually agreeable alternative appelation in bilateral relations with Greece.
Last year, Greece blocked Macedonia’s NATO entry over the dispute. Athens argues that Skopje’s official name implies that it is making territorial claims over its own northern province of Macedonia. Greece and Macedonia are engaged in long-standing UN sponsored talks to solve the dispute, which have yet to bear fruit.
“Last year Macedonia felt the burden of European states' hesitation,” Ivanov reportedly said in an address at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. “We are used to expecting negativity from Greece, but we expected support from Europe and its absence was noticeable,” he said.
While Athens insists on a compound name for Macedonia, that would be used erga omnes ["in relation to everyone"], Skopje argues it cannot give up its current name, which has been recognised by over 120 states.
Macedonian media speculate that variations on the name Northern Macedonia have been floated as a possible compromise by UN mediator Matthew Nimetz. The talks are currently on hold, awaiting the outcome of the upcoming general election in Greece.....
Ivanov, who is in Germany at the invitation of President Horst Kohler, stressed that Macedonia must be careful not to make any last minute slip, in order to obtain a positive report from the European Commission, EC, on its reform progress in October, that includes a recommended starting date for EU accession talks.
According to Ivanov, Kohler expressed optimism that the report would be positive. The two presidents also tackled the name row.
Macedonia became an EU candidate state in 2005, but the EC has cited insufficient reform in its previous three annual reports in failing to approve the start of integration negotiations.
Greece has threatened to block Macedonia’s EU entry, pending a solution to the name row.
“Greece has no legal means to force Macedonia to do so”, Ivanov was quoted by daily Dnevnik as saying.
Macedonia backs the so-called dual name formula for resolving the naming row with neighbouring Greece, he said. This formula, which has been rejected by Athens, envisages the use of Skopje’s current official name, Republic of Macedonia, internationally, and of a mutually agreeable alternative appelation in bilateral relations with Greece.
Last year, Greece blocked Macedonia’s NATO entry over the dispute. Athens argues that Skopje’s official name implies that it is making territorial claims over its own northern province of Macedonia. Greece and Macedonia are engaged in long-standing UN sponsored talks to solve the dispute, which have yet to bear fruit.
“Last year Macedonia felt the burden of European states' hesitation,” Ivanov reportedly said in an address at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. “We are used to expecting negativity from Greece, but we expected support from Europe and its absence was noticeable,” he said.
While Athens insists on a compound name for Macedonia, that would be used erga omnes ["in relation to everyone"], Skopje argues it cannot give up its current name, which has been recognised by over 120 states.
Macedonian media speculate that variations on the name Northern Macedonia have been floated as a possible compromise by UN mediator Matthew Nimetz. The talks are currently on hold, awaiting the outcome of the upcoming general election in Greece.....
Ivanov, who is in Germany at the invitation of President Horst Kohler, stressed that Macedonia must be careful not to make any last minute slip, in order to obtain a positive report from the European Commission, EC, on its reform progress in October, that includes a recommended starting date for EU accession talks.
According to Ivanov, Kohler expressed optimism that the report would be positive. The two presidents also tackled the name row.
Macedonia became an EU candidate state in 2005, but the EC has cited insufficient reform in its previous three annual reports in failing to approve the start of integration negotiations.
Greece has threatened to block Macedonia’s EU entry, pending a solution to the name row.
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