Athens-Skopje Talks Expected In Mid-April

He said that the UN name mediator Matthew Nimetz had informed the ministry about the upcoming talks.

“Macedonia is, as always, prepared to take a constructive role in the talks,” Milososki said.

Macedonia and Greece are locked in a nearly two decade long spat over the use of the name Macedonia. Athens conditions Skopje’s entry In EU and NATO with the change of Skopje’s official name, Republic of Macedonia.

Greece insists that Macedonia’s name implies territorial claims over its own northern province, also called Macedonia while Macedonia fears it could be stripped of its identity and dignity if it accepts the Greek terms.

Visiting Hungarian Foreign Minster expressed hope that a solution to the row would be reached soon and that all remaining countries from the Balkans, including Macedonia, will be able to enter the EU in the next few years.

He noted, however, that “in the EU, 27 members must reach a unanimous decision” for each new entry, and expressed skepticism over the Greek plan to help the Western Balkans countries achieve that goal by 2014.

Hungary takes over the rotating EU presidency at the beginning of next year.

During his first official visit to Skopje Balazs, together with his host, signed a cooperation protocol between the Macedonian and Hungarian ministries of foreign affairs aimed at boosting their cooperation in various fields.