FYROM Deputy PM reiterates commitment to resolve name issue in 2018

by Maria Spiliopoulou

ATHENS, Jan. 9 (Xinhua)-- Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bujar Osmani reiterated on Tuesday during a visit here Skopje's commitment to ongoing efforts to resolve in the first half of 2018 the name dispute.

"We do not have a deal on any solution yet, but we have negotiations. We are awaiting the presentation of a proposal by UN mediator Matthew Nimetz later this month and we will consider it and decide," Osmani told media after talks with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, according to Greek national news agency AMNA.

The FYROM official stressed that scenarios circulating in media regarding the new name of the country are baseless and do not contribute to the discussion. "What is important is commitment to reach a solution," he said.

On the part of the Greek government, Dimitris Tzanakopoulos, the government spokesperson, underlined that the solution of the name issue will help both countries and the wider region to leave differences behind and prosper.

"The main point is to resolve issues that create difficulties with neighbors, so that we may move to a new phase of co-development in the Balkans," he told a press briefing according to an emailed statement.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and FYROM Prime Minister Zoran Zaev have repeatedly said in the past few days that there was a window of opportunity for the solution in 2018 to the dispute.

A new round of talks between diplomats of both sides in New York next week with UN special mediator Matthew Nimetz has been scheduled, as intensified contacts between the two countries in recent months have fuelled hope that the UN-mediated dialogue this time may end successfully. Enditem