Macedonia Press Review ' July 23, 2010

DNEVNIK

There is intensive secret diplomacy going on between Macedonia and Greece in a bid to solve the long standing name dispute, the daily says. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has employed his longtime friend and associate Alex Rondos, an experienced diplomat with good connections in the US, to help in this effort, unnamed sources close to the negotiation process told the daily.

UTRINSKI VESNIK

Local businessmen cited by the daily criticize the government’s recent decision to allow the possibility of the postponement of the repayment of state debt to companies for one year. They say companies already face liquidity problems due to the effects of the global crisis, and instead of helping them the government is making the problem worse.

VREME

25 tons of heroin pass through Macedonia each year, the daily says. The newspaper conveys parts of the UN report on drug routes through the Balkans. International experts have pinpointed Macedonia as one of the key transit countries for the drug on its way to Western Europe. At the same time the Macedonian Ministry of Interior claims that the country is not part of the main drug corridors.