Less Statements, More 'Name' Talks Urged

Instead of the two sides just giving statements, Fouere said that urgent and serious talks are still needed in order to solve the long lasting spat.

Fouere remarks came after Macedonian PM Nikola Gruevski on Sunday noted that if the country held a referendum on the name 'Republic of Northern Macedonia', to be used for all purposes, he would vote against it.

Gruevski previously promised to stage such a referendum should a name compromise with Greece be reached.

"Gruevski's statement points out the importance of holding bilateral talks between the two countries," Fouere said, noting that Macedonia hasn't yet reached the final phase in the name talks with Greece.

He expressed hope that in the coming seven weeks Macedonia would make positive progress on this issue.

The EU is urging the two sides to reach a solution by July, when the Spanish EU presidency ends. However, there are many skeptics who believe that this will be difficult to achieve.

Skopje and Athens are locked in a 19 year-long 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, which is also called Macedonia. Skopje fears that if it accepts Athens' conditions it could lose its national identity and pride.

In 2008 Athens blocked Skopje’s NATO accession over the spat and in December Greece again used the bilateral spat to block Skopje from getting a date for the start of its EU accession talks.

Yesterday, mock name talks between professors and historians from both countries were held for the first in the Macedonian town of Ohrid. The simulated talks were aimed at shedding more light on this unsolved issue, which has poisoned bilateral relations.

The real talks, however, are held under the auspices of the UN. They are expected to resume sometime during the next month.