Macedonian PM Dampens Name Hopes

Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said he does not expect a solution to the long-standing name row with Greece to be found at his meeting Friday with his Greek counterpart George Papandreou.

Attempts are being made to raise expectations for the forthcoming meeting, he told local media on Wednesday, stating that his remarks regarding the talks are not pessimistic but based on realism.

“I expect pleasant discussion, dialogue, exchange of views and also I expect the meeting to contribute to an overall improvement of the atmosphere between Macedonia and Greece. I don't have any expectations that the meeting will result in a solution to the long-standing issue, that's been unresolved for 18 years, but I believe that it will give a positive impulse to our relations,'' Gruevski said.

Gruevski reiterated Macedonia’s stands in the row.

"Our country fulfilled the required standards, reforms and criteria, and we will proceed with the same commitments in the future” he said.
 
“Unfortunately, now we are in a situation when things depend on somebody else, and nobody can guarantee the outcome. We will do our utmost to convince the other side that it is important that we solve the problem together. Nonetheless, I cannot guarantee that the other side will do so," Gruevski concluded.

Officially, the two prime ministers will meet on the sidelines of a regional meeting on climate change to discuss issues related to both countries.

Macedonia has until 7 December to avoid a second stand-off with Greece due to the unresolved name row. Athens has threatened to block a decision by the EU Council to give Macedonia a date for the start of its accession negotiations with the bloc if there is no breakthrough on the name issue.

Last year Athens stopped NATO from extending an invitation to Skopje to join the Alliance, arguing that Skopje’s official name, Republic of Macedonia, implies territorial claims towards Greece’s own northern province which is also called Macedonia.

The announced meeting between the two PM’s was greeted by high EU and US officials. The US ambassador to Skopje, Philip Reeker said that the talks might prove crucial in the solution finding effort.