‘Name dispute’ mediator in Skopje
Matthew Nimetz, the mediator appointed by the United Nations to broker a resolution in the dispute about the use of the name "Macedonia" arrived in Skopje on July 6 2009 for a two-day visit during which he will meet top state leaders.
Nimetz is scheduled to go to Athens on July 8.
Speaking to Macedonian Radio and Television (MRT) ahead of his visit, Nimetz said that he would ask both sides to make serious efforts to resolve the dispute.
The long-running standoff arises from Greece objecting the Skopje using the name Macedonia for the country, with Athens holding that this is historically inappropriate and could be exploited to reinforce Skopje’s territorial claims in Greece.
In Macedonia, the issue is a dominant theme in domestic and foreign policy, with prime minister Nikola Gruevski’s government repeating that the country would accept no compromise that imperils its national identity.
MRT said that in Skopje, Nimetz would meet president Gjorge Ivanov, Gruevski and foreign minister Antonio Milososki.
Nimetz will also visit Athens for meetings with foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis and negotiator Ademantios Vasilakis, Greek media report.
If both parties invested serious efforts in the matter, a resolution will come soon, Nimetz told MRT on July 2.
Nimitz did not say whether he would come to Skopje with a new proposal for settling the matter.
In Skopje, he would listen carefully to the positions of Macedonian side, so that the negotiating process could advance, MRT quoted Nimetz as saying
From Athens, ANA-MPA said that Nimetz’s visits came after he envoys for the two countries - Zoran Jolevski of Macedonia and Adamantios Vassilakis of Greece - at UN headquarters in Geneva on June 22.
After the Geneva meeting, Nimetz said that it was time to intensify the efforts for settlement of name dispute, noting that both countries were holding firm to their stands.
Nimetz is scheduled to go to Athens on July 8.
Speaking to Macedonian Radio and Television (MRT) ahead of his visit, Nimetz said that he would ask both sides to make serious efforts to resolve the dispute.
The long-running standoff arises from Greece objecting the Skopje using the name Macedonia for the country, with Athens holding that this is historically inappropriate and could be exploited to reinforce Skopje’s territorial claims in Greece.
In Macedonia, the issue is a dominant theme in domestic and foreign policy, with prime minister Nikola Gruevski’s government repeating that the country would accept no compromise that imperils its national identity.
MRT said that in Skopje, Nimetz would meet president Gjorge Ivanov, Gruevski and foreign minister Antonio Milososki.
Nimetz will also visit Athens for meetings with foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis and negotiator Ademantios Vasilakis, Greek media report.
If both parties invested serious efforts in the matter, a resolution will come soon, Nimetz told MRT on July 2.
Nimitz did not say whether he would come to Skopje with a new proposal for settling the matter.
In Skopje, he would listen carefully to the positions of Macedonian side, so that the negotiating process could advance, MRT quoted Nimetz as saying
From Athens, ANA-MPA said that Nimetz’s visits came after he envoys for the two countries - Zoran Jolevski of Macedonia and Adamantios Vassilakis of Greece - at UN headquarters in Geneva on June 22.
After the Geneva meeting, Nimetz said that it was time to intensify the efforts for settlement of name dispute, noting that both countries were holding firm to their stands.