UN envoy meets with officials in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

A United Nations envoy today met with officials from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia today to discuss the official name of the country and related issues.

Matthew Nimetz, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the talks between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, is in Skopje today for talks with officials, including the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and envoy dealing with the “name issue.”

According to UN spokesperson Marie Okabe, Mr. Nimetz reported that he had a constructive session with the leaders who expressed their views in detail.

He also voiced hope that the pace of the talks between the two countries can be accelerated, and noted that those in Skopje had a positive attitude towards finding ways to reach a solution.

The Envoy will meet with Greek leaders on this issue in Athens on Wednesday.

On his initiative, representatives of the two countries met in New York early last month.

Article 5 of the Interim Accord of 13 September 1995, brokered by the UN, details the difference between the two countries regarding the official name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It also obliges the two sides to continue negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General to try to reach agreement on their dispute.