PM Tsipras, Chancellor Merkel discuss name dispute in phone call

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had a phone conversation with Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss several issues, including the name dispute, Tsipras’ office said Tuesday.

“The two leaders discussed developments relating to the negotiations on the FYROM name issue, provocative Turkish activity in the Aegean, and Turkey’s relations with the European Union,” read a short press release of the PM’s office, MIA reports from Athens.

Citing its own sources, Greek Skai TV reported that Tsipras to Merkel pinpointed the need for a final solution to the dispute that would involve changing the constitutional name of the neighboring country. According to the same sources, the Greek PM and the German Chancellor have agreed to meet on Friday in Brussels at an informal summit of EU leaders.

The Tsipras-Merkel phone conversation comes on the eve of the visit of Macedonian Premier Zoran Zaev to Berlin, where he is also scheduled to meet with Chancellor Merkel.