Czech Republic Urges Macedonia Name Solution

Fischer noted that Czech diplomat Stefan Fuele, who is the new EU Enlargement Commissioner, may substantially contribute to the process of enlarging the European Union to include the Western Balkan countries.

Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski extended his gratitude for Czech support to Macedonia's EU integration and expressed hope for a settlement of the bilateral dispute with Greece, a process to which Macedonia has been fully committed, he said on Tuesday.

“There can be no solution if only one party wishes and fights for it. We hope that the other side, Greece, will invest more effort and understanding in the whole process in order to bring about a solution,” Gruevski said.

Setting a date for the accession talks would be an encouraging sign for Macedonia and the entire region, Gruevski said.

At the meeting, Macedonia and the Czech Republic signed an agreement on cooperation in combating crime, money laundering and counterfeiting, corruption, human, drugs and arms trafficking.

On Wednesday, Gruevski will meet Czech President Vaclav Klaus, as well as Speakers of the Czech Senate and House of Representatives Premysl Sobotka and Miloslav Vlcek, respectively.

Last autumn, Skopje received a positive report from the European Commission accompanied by a recommendation for the opening of the country's EU accession talks.

However, in December, Athens blocked the EU from extending a date, citing the unresolved bilateral name spat. Athens insists that Skopje’s official name, Republic of Macedonia, implies territorial claims towards its own northern province, also called Macedonia.

In 2008 Skopje was denied NATO membership over the same issue.

The two countries have been trying to find a compromise with the help of UN mediation for 18 years, but so far have been unsuccessful in their attempts. UN mediator Matthew Nimetz is to arrive in Skopje and Athens this month to instigate a fresh round of name talks.