Officials call for compromise to solve name issue between Macedonia, Greece

SKOPJE, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Finding a compromise that would be acceptable for both countries is a must in solving the long-standing name issue between Macedonia and Greece, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and visiting Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias told a joint press conference here on Friday.

Both officials noted that the talks between both countries on settling the name issue should be focused on the future of both countries.

"We should be determined and take actions that will bring us closer to settling the only open issue between our countries. I'm certain that such approach will lead to a solution that offers sufficient number of arguments for the institutions and opposition of both countries to accept it as dignified for both Macedonia and Greece," Zaev said.

Zaev praised the fact that Kotzias' visit here was a rather positive moment, noting during the name negotiation process, both countries had been promoting one European value, namely advancing of the bilateral relations and ties of confidence.

On his part, the Greek foreign chief noted that Greece, as a NATO and European Union member, had great responsibility for resolving the name issue while he highlighted the need for finding a compromise that would lead to an acceptable solution for both sides.

The same view was voiced also by Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov who told his Greek counterpart that both countries should find a solution which did not harm anyone and opened the doors to the future.

"Both countries are interested on finding a solution to this problem which has lasted several years now," he said.

Dimitrov also informed that he had ruled out the possibility for the solution to come through a name such as "GornaMakedonija".

The Balkan country Macedonia is formally known at the UN as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Meanwhile, "Macedonia" is also the name of a northern province in Greece. Athens is worried that the use of the same name by the neighboring state could lead to territorial claims. Enditem