Greece Accepts Macedonian Meeting Proposal

“A meeting between two neighbouring countries is always important and positive, regardless of the existing problems,” Greek ANA-MPA news agency quoted a spokesperson for Greece's government, George Petalotis, as saying on Thursday.

He clarified that a date for such a meeting would have to be decided later and would require much preparation before it could take place.

On Wednesday, Gruevski initiated a phone conversation with his Greek counterpart Papandreou, and invited him to a meeting, the government in Skopje reported. The aim was to improve bilateral relations and push the name row settlement process forward.
 
During their conversation, Gruevski and Papandreou shared opinions on economic developments in both countries, as well as on other regional bilateral issues.

Speaking to the European Parliament Foreign Policy Committee, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos announced yesterday that he would soon visit Skopje, Deutsche Welle reported.

Spain is the current holder of the EU presidency.

“Both parties have been working under the mediation of the UN, and at the moment it is better for them to talk with each other with the support of that organization. If European intervention is needed, the Spanish presidency is ready for that,” Moratinos said.

Athens and Skopje are engaged in a long lasting row over the use of the name Macedonia. Athens insists that Skopje’s official name, Republic of Macedonia, implies territorial claims against its own northern province, also called Macedonia. In December it blocked Skopje from acquiring the desired start date for its EU accession talks because of the dispute. Athens also blocked Skopje’s NATO entry in 2008.

Efforts are now being made to settle the dispute as soon as possible, preferably by the end of the Spanish EU presidency, which wraps up in June. The UN name mediator, Matthew Nimetz, is expected to visit both countries soon and initiate a fresh round of negotiations.