FYROM Name Issue

Athens dismisses latest quip for ‘double-name’ solution

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis dismissed yesterday (July 21), statements made by the prime minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Nikola Gruevski that Skopje’s ‘natural position’ is a “double-name formula” to overcome the thorny name issue.”   This statement shows that Mr. Gruevski has not realised the message of the international community, which is clear and unanimous: for the sake of his country’s and his people’s Euro-Atlantic course, a mutually acceptable solution to this issue must be achieved; a composite name with a geographical qualifier, erga omnes,” the FM underlined in a press release.  Greek News Agenda: Greece has a strong case on the name issue

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Greece has a Strong Case on the Name Issue

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was briefed yesterday on Foreign Yugoslav’s Republic of Macedonia’s decision to lodge an appeal with the International Court of Justice in The Hague, claiming that Greece violated the 1995 bilateral interim accord during last year’s NATO Bucharest summit.

Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis stressed that Greece has a strong case, which will support before the Court, putting forward its arguments by January 2010.  “It will be a long process but Greece has strong defense arguments, which will prove that the real problem lies in Skopje‘s intransigence”. She further called on Skopje to enter the name negotiations in good faith in order to fund a mutually acceptable name. 

Discussions over the Name Issue Continue

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  The UN secretary general’s personal envoy on the FYROM name issue Matthew Nimetz said yesterday (June 8) that he was “more optimistic” for a solution to the name issue, but rejected any timetable, following a 90-minute meeting in Athens with foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis.Nimetz, who arrived in Athens on Tuesday night after talks in the FYROM capital of Skopje, told reporters after the meeting with Bakoyannis that he had brought ideas that comprise “minor” changes to the proposals he had submitted in October, which included the name “Republic of Northern Macedonia”. “I had an excellent discussion with the foreign minister, I conveyed the discussions I had in Skopje (on Tuesday with the FYROM president and prime minister), I briefed her, and I was briefed, on the views of the two sides,” Nimetz said, adding that there was encouragement for continuation of the negotiations and “I believe that I will continue my work even better”. Greek News Agenda: “The Name issue is the only Issue”

Greek President Papoulias Meets Romanian Counterpart

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias met on Wednesday with his Romanian counterpart Traian Basescu, who is on a state visit to Greece. The two leaders discussed matters of bilateral well as of particular Balkan interest, confirming there is common ground regarding the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries, provided that “good neighbour” policies are enshrined in the actions of the aspiring members.  The Romanian president made clear that this principle applies to all countries wishing to join the EU, including FYROM and Turkey. Regarding the latter and its relations to Cyprus, Basescu was pronounced in favour of EU’s “code of conduct,” stressing that is thus unacceptable that Turkey continues to occupy a section of an EU member country and that Nicosia continues to be a divided European capital.

2nd Ambassador’s Forum in Greece

US Ambassador outlines US foreign policy

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Within the framework of the Foreign Ministry’s of Greece. 2nd Ambassadors’ Forum – an initiative aimed at promoting discussion and dialogue on foreig,n policy issues – U.S. Ambassador to Athens Daniel Speckhard spoke on American foreign policy. Main issues addressed included national security, global economy, environmental problems, energy security and Greek-American relations. According to Speckhard, Greece plays a very important role in the Balkans and the United States look forward to a closer cooperation with Athens in this region. As regards the FYROM name issue, he said that his country is encouraging both sides to find a mutually acceptable solution. Speckhard also made a favourable reference to the presence of the Greek delegation, under Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, in the recent Annapolis Conference on the Middle East issue.