Kotzias and German Foreign Minister Maas discuss name issue

The Macedonia-Greece name dispute was high on the agenda of a meeting between German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias in Berlin on Tuesday.

Germany fully supports the efforts of finding a solution to the decades-long dispute, Deutsche Welle reports.

FM Maas saluted the negotiations process and highlighted Berlin’s interest in a solution to the name issue.

“Germany is interested in a solution that will bring peace and stability in the Western Balkans,” said Maas.

Kotzias briefed Maas that working groups from Macedonia, Greece and the United Nations have been in session in Athens since Monday in order to complete the framework agreement for the countries’ prime ministers.

He added that the dispute should be solved because it is in the interest of Greece too, not only Macedonia.

The Kotzias-Maas meeting comes after last week’s phone conversation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel with Macedonian and Greek PMs, Zoran Zaev and Alexis Tsipras respectively, over the name talks.