FM: Macedonian Delegation to Meet “Name” Mediator

Antonio Milososki said on Wednesday Nimetz will probably expect positive steps from both sides before formally extending a new proposal that would have any real chance to make a breakthrough in the stalled talks.

He told local broadcaster Alsat TV: “On Macedonia's part, there is preparedness and pragmatism to overcome this long-standing row.

"But obviously in terms of the essence of this issue and pragmatism for its settlement, we haven't received any positive signal from Greece, even though the country has demonstrated a fresh openness to communicate with Macedonia's leadership."

He added he had no indication as to whether the mediator will extend any fresh proposals for overcoming the spat that has blocked Macedonia’s attempts to join NATO and the EU.

Commenting on recent Greek media speculation that names like "Northern" or "Vardar Macedonia" could be acceptable solutions to end the dispute, Milososki said it was obvious that Athens has been promoting possible initiatives that favoured its own viewpoint.

Athens and Skopje have been locked in a dispute over the use of the name Macedonia for almost two decades.

Athens insists that Skopje’s official name, the Republic of Macedonia, implies territorial claims against its own northern province, also called Macedonia.

In 2008 Greece blocked Macedonia’s NATO accession pending a solution to the dispute.

Last December, Athens also blocked Skopje from getting the desired start date for its EU accession talks, despite a positive recommendation from the European Commission.

Nimetz held the last round of name talks in late April but with no visible progress.

Macedonia is sends President George Ivanov to the forthcoming UN assembly.

Local media have speculated PM Nikola Gruevski might also attend and may see his Greek counterpart, George Papandreou.