UN’s Nimetz in new Macedonia name dispute meeting

12:46 Mon 14 Jul 2008 - Clive Leviev-Sawyer

Matthew Nimetz, the United Nations special envoy assigned to mediate the dispute between Athens and Skopje about the name of Macedonia, will meet Greek negotiator Adamantios Vassilakis in New York on July 14, media in Athens and Skopje reported.

The meeting follows talks between Nimetz and Skopje’s representative, Nikola Dimitrov, at which Dimitrov – in the terminology of Athens-based daily Kathimerini – “dug his heels in” by turning down four name proposals, including the geographical qualifiers “Northern” and “Upper”.

At the core of the name dispute is Greek concern that allowing Skopje to use the name “Macedonia” for the country would reinforce the former Yugoslav republic’s territorial claims in northern Greece. The enduring dispute led Greece to block an invitation being issued at a Nato summit in June 2008 for Macedonia to join the alliance.

According to report by Skai TV and Radio from Skopje, Dimitrov told Nimetz that Macedonia would not give up its national identity. Dimitrov reportedly also raised the issue of a “Slav-Macedonian” minority in Greece.

On July 7, Greeknewsonline reported that Greek foreign ministry spokesperson George Koumoutsakos had hit out at reported comments by Macedonian foreign minister Antonio Milososki, who was quoted by media in Skopje as saying “it would be good if we close all the possible issues that could cause misunderstanding in the future”, and claimed that Greece was “piling on” more issues in negotiations.

Koumoutsakos said that Milososki’s reported statements were a completely "baseless, unqualified and unsubstantiated attempt to create impressions” by Skopje.

Koumoutsakos said that Greece’s negotiating position, “and the way we understand and deal with negotiations, has been unwavering from the first moment; everything was clear, open.

“In fact, the consistency of Greece’s positions was absolutely confirmed at the Nato summit in Bucharest. The validity of our positions is undisputed and our positions remain steadfast to the letter,” Koumoutsakos said. He said that Skopje was using delaying tactics.

“This is confirmed by a series of unacceptable, in terms of manner and content, statements, as well as by this unfortunate attempt to generate non-existent and baseless issues. Greece will not be influenced and will not participate in any attempt to divert negotiations from their objective, which is none other than a mutually acceptable solution to the ‘name issue’. Greece will continue to work constructively for a solution,” Koumoutsakos said.

Comments

Comments by Lena - 13:05 14 Jul 2008
	I dont mean to be negative but this issue is appauling to say the least ...Greece should continue nothing with FYROM. There really is nothing to debate .BTW You wouldnt believe the lies HATE and anti Greek websites that are on the internet made by FYROMians. Here is an example of what low lifes poor Greece has to deal with (copy and paste into your browser) http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=fuck+greece&search_type=&aq=-1&oq=
Comments by Suzie - 13:44 14 Jul 2008
	Why is Greece negotiating with these people? They have no chance...
Comments by Igor - 20:10 14 Jul 2008
	To Lena, you are not going to intimidate anyone. The Macedonian people are now awake after centuries of torment and tragedy. I am not FYR anything but have always been Macedonian. If you don't hear anything else, hear this: the moment of truth is near, Greece will reap what it has sown, hatred, fear and genocide over the Macedonians. We are coming back to haunt you you uneducated, pretentious and ungrateful people.
Comments by Peter G. - 02:20 15 Jul 2008
	Greek denial of existance of Macedonian minority is a blatant lie!We the children refugee from Greece will not forget the teror that Greece exerted againts our people just being Macedonians.Greeces denial shows,they are not serious enouth to solve the disputes between the two countries.Yes,they do hold the cards for NATO and EU,but as long as these organizations do follow the Greek footsteps Macedonia does not need eigther for us to loose our identity.PM. Gruevski is going to do the right thing and presserve our most savret ethnicity.It is clear, Greece does not want to recognize the Macedonian minority in Greece.A message to the Greek government" We the Macedonian people have suffered your abuses for too long,it is time we preserve our ethnicity at all cost."The Greek threats againts the Republic of Macedonia will never succeed.The Greek Human Rights abuses will be brought to world courts sooner or later.Greece has a lot to answer for it,and that is the reason Greece denies the existance of Macedonians.Greece has only one supporter,and that is France.You are alone on the Macedonian question.
Comments by cons - 15:39 15 Jul 2008
	How does anyone in Gruevski's government, expect Greece to recognise a slav-Macedonian minority, if they're not prepared to accept a compromise on the name? Not"upper", not "northern"? Do a proper deal Gruevski! Suggest a compromise and maybe, just maybe Greece will allow any slav-Macedonians their rights.