On February 19, yet another round of the United Nations-mediated talks between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) was held in the Greek capital Athens, in a bid to find a solution to the “name issue” that has strained relations between the two countries for 17 years.

Ever since the small Balkan republic seceded from former Yugoslavia in 1991, it has insisted that it be recognised under its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia. The Greeks, however, have claimed Macedonia is the name of the northern part of Greece and that having the Macedonians use it as the official name of their republic showed their implicit territorial claims over Northern Greece.

Although the UN and other international organisations formally refer to Macedonia as FYROM, a lot of countries, including the US, the UK, Russia and China, have recognised it under its constitutional name. Greece, however, strongly opposes this trend and has threatened to veto Macedonia’s invitation to join Nato, expected to be officially extended at the organisation’s April 2008 Bucharest summit, and thwart Macedonia’s EU aspirations, unless a mutually acceptable solution is found.

On February 19, Matthew Nimetz, the UN’s special envoy on the name issue, made new proposals to reach an agreement. “It would be a tremendous success for the region and for the two countries to resolve the issue,” he said, as quoted by the Associated Press.

A new round of talks is expected to be held to discuss the two parties’ responses to Nimetz’ suggestions.

“We will keep negotiating, since of all parties Macedonia is the most interested one in settling the dispute,” Macedonian foreign ministry spokesperson Vasile Andonovski told The Sofia Echo. He defined the dispute as unilateral since Greece was the only country that had issues with Macedonia’s name and said that Greece should not interfere with Macedonia’s Nato and EU bid.

“Without a mutually acceptable solution, there can be no relations like allies; there can be no invitation to the neighbouring country for participation in the same alliance,” Greek prime minister Kostas Karamanlis told Greek parliament on February 22, as reported by Athens News Agency. “If the neighbouring state wishes to join Nato, if it truly desires to join the European Union, it is obliged, in practise, to prove that it can be a real ally and partner [...] It is obliged to travel the distance [...] in order to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution to the outstanding issue regarding its name,” he added.

After the talks, about 2000 people protested in the centre of Skopje against the possible change to Macedonia’s name. Some Macedonians demonstrating in front of Greece’s diplomatic representation in Skopje threw stones at it, without causing any injuries, Associated Press reported.