'No Progress' in Macedonia Name Talks

“There is still no solution for this issue that has been burdening us for a long period,” Gruevski told media in Sarajevo on Thursday during his official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Meanwhile, Athens blamed Skopje for the lack of fresh ideas from the UN mediator, saying that Skopje is not giving positive signals that would encourage US diplomat Matthew Nimetz, who is leading the UN sponsored talks, to step forward with a fresh plan.

“I don't think that there are conditions for anything new until there is a response on the part of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,” Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras told a press conference yesterday.

He urged Skopje to be more resolved and constructive in order for a deal to be reached.

“Our firm will is to reach a solution on the name issue as soon as possible,” Dalavecouras insisted. “This is why we have clearly formulated our positions that are understood and supported by most members of the international community.”

Macedonia and Greece have been locked in a long standing dispute over the use of the mane Maceconia. Athens insists that Skopje’s official name, Republic of Macedonia, has to be changed as it implies territorial claims against its own northern province, also called Macedonia.

As a result of the spat, Athens blocked Skopje’s attempt to join NATO in 2008. Last autumn Skopje faced a similiar blockade in its attempt to move forward with EU membership talks. Despite a positive recommendation from the European Commission, Skopje did not get a start date for the launch of its EU accession talks because of Athens’ resistance.

The spat was also part of talks held late Wednesday between Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Zbogar and his host, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Zbogar and Clinton agreed that it is high time to reach an agreement over the name dispute and thus open the doors for Macedonia's NATO accession in November at the summit of the Alliance, followed by the start of EU accession talks in December.

Macedonia and Greece held their last formal round of name talks in late April. Since then both sides have been speculating that Nimetz might come out with a fresh proposal. But many observers say that this will happen only if Nimetz gets positive signals from both sides that his effort might succeed.