The issue of national identity is taken seriously by Balkan people – including the least serious among them.
Greece-Macedonia Informal Meeting in Copenhagen
Skopje | 17 December 2009 | Sinisa-Jakov Marusic
The two praised the recently established practice of more frequent high level bilateral meetings which should contribute to better understanding between the two countries, Macedonia's MIA news agency said.
"Both societies communicate and cooperate without any problems. Such communication will undoubtedly increase with the visa liberalisation," Ivanov was cited by MIA as saying after the informal talks.
Ivanov reaffirmed his invitation to Greek President Karolos Papoulias to visit his country.
There were no details whether the long standing name spat between the two neighbors, was tackled.
Ivanov said that the 18 years long row is a consequence of past times and old prejudices. He expressed hope that Greece would overcome its prejudices and stop blocking Macedonia’s NATO and EU integration.
In the last two months Greece's Prime Minister has met his Macedonian counterpart Nikola Gruevski twice. He has also talked to Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki. These meetings come after nearly four years of virtually no high level bilateral meetings.
Earlier this month Greece blocked the EU from offering Macedonia a start date for EU accession negotiations. Last year it vetoed Macedonia's entry into NATO, and said it will continue to do so until Macedonia changes its constitutional name.
