Dimitrov: Negotiations make no sense if they require same level of maturity as EU accession


Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov has been talking to experts and the press about the name negotiations with Greece. At a conference organized by the European Political Center, he was asked to persuade EU-member countries that hesitate to start negotiations with Macedonia. “There should be a clear distinction,” FM Dimitrov said, “between starting negotiations and EU …

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TV Skai: Athens and Skopje have not yet iron their differences over the scope of usage of the new name


If the Macedonian, Greek Prime Ministers, Zoran Zaev and Alexis Tsipras respectively, agree in the next few days on a solution to the name issue in the key phone conversation and convene a meeting in Prespa to make it official, several phases would follow until the parliaments of two countries ratify the deal. Part of …

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Hahn: Name solution will be a ‘game changer’ in Macedonia’s EU accession process


Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn says the EU is encouraged by the latest round of name talks between Skopje and Athens. Hahn, who attended Monday an informal breakfast organized by Bulgaria and Austria alongside Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov and his European counterparts, tweeted that the meeting was fruitful and …

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Kotzias: The final agreement is in the hands of the prime ministers of both countries


The foreign ministers have completed their part, negotiations continue at expert level, and when they finish, the texts prepared by the ministers will be in the hands of the prime ministers for a final agreement, says Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias about the name negotiations. “The foreign ministers have completed the task given by the prime ministers …

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Protests over the name Macedonia across Greece on June 6


Organizers of protests over “the Greek character of Macedonia” have scheduled fresh gatherings across Greece on June 6. The announcements for the protests come after the latest developments in the name talks. Following protests in Athens and Thessaloniki, the organizers have now reached local authorities in other cities. “Through these protests, the Committee fighting for …

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Kathimerini: Another name related to Krusevo and the Ilinden period is on the table


Greek daily Kathimerini, citing well-informed sources, says that apart from mediator Nimetz’s four proposals, there is another name on the negotiating table, which has not yet been published in the public, and is associated with Krusevo and the Ilinden period. The Greek newspaper says the new name will reflect the country’s Slavic origins, rejecting links to …

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Mitsotakis: We can live 2-3 more years with unresolved name issue


If I have political responsibility, name dispute will be resolved when I consider that the solution will serve the national interests, Greek opposition New Democracy party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis told private broadcaster Skai in an interview on Sunday when asked what would be his steps if elected Prime Minister in case name negotiations fail. “We have lived …

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FM Dimitrov to pay official visit to Brussels on May 28-29


Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov is to pay official visit May 28-29 to Brussels. Dimitrov is to take part Monday at the working breakfast with the EU foreign ministers organised by the Bulgaria’s EU Presidency ahead of upcoming Austria’s EU Presidency and Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting. The central point in the discussions will be Macedonia’s European integration process, implementation …

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PM Tsipras: We clearly stated that we are negotiating on Nimetz’s four proposals


The government clearly stated that it was negotiating with Skopje on the basis of the four names, proposed by the UN, namely the package of suggestion tabled by mediator Matthew Nimetz, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said Wednesday in response to the criticism of the opposition ‘New Democracy’ leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the name ‘Republic of Ilinden Macedonia’. …

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Merkel discussed the name dispute with Zaev and Tsipras


Chancellor Angela Merkel had a telephone conversations with Macedonian and Greek Prime Ministers on Tuesday. The topics and other details are not revealed, but the conversations took place just two days after Macedonian Prime Minister Zaev announced to the Macedonian public that the draft solution for the name was “Republic of Ilinden Macedonia” and after …

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Levica presses charges against Zaev


The political party Levica pressed criminal charges today against Prime Minister Zoran Zaev in the Basic Public Prosecution for violating the constitutional order of the state. Dimitar Apasiev believes Zaev threatened Macedonia’s negotiating positions, leading the country in a dependent position from another country, in the name dispute with Greece. The party demanded that the …

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Zaev: ‘Republic of Ilinden Macedonia’ name proposal still in play


“Macedonia has not dismissed the ‘Republic of Ilinden Macedonia’ proposal,” PM Zoran Zaev said in response to a reporter’s question in front of Skopje’s Criminal Court on Monday. The proposal, according to Zaev, is worth careful consideration, as it fulfills the expectations of most citizens in both countries. “Republic of Ilinden Macedonia, Zaev said, “is a …

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Dimitrov and Kotzias to meet UN’s Nimetz on May 24-25 in New York


Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Dimitrov on May 24-25 in New York will hold a meeting with his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias with the UN special envoy, Matthew Nimetz, also in attendance, Macedonia’s Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday. The meeting was also announced in a statement by the Greek Foreign Ministry around the same time …

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Mitsotakis: Ilinden Macedonia is embodiment of irredentism


Ilinden and the Ilinden Uprising identify with Macedonian irredentism, says New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Mitsotakis said during a visit to the island of Corfu that his party would never accept the name Republic of Ilinden Macedonia. “We have been briefed that name ‘Ilinden Macedonia’ is on the table. Let’s put some things straight for …

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Macedonian Government: Name proposal contains chronological qualifier acceptable for both sides


Republic of Ilinden Macedonia is a name that contains a chronological qualifier with ties to concrete historical dates and constitutes a realistic opportunity for reaching a compromise deemed acceptable by the two sides. We expect the proposal to be met with wide support in Athens, the government said Sunday. “This name makes clear distinction from …

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