Greece, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to hold UN-backed talks

The United Nations envoy tasked with helping Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia resolve their dispute over the official name of the latter country, will hold talks tomorrow with both sides at the world body’s headquarters in New York.

A substantial gap remains between the two parties’ positions despite their willingness to continue the process of UN-led negotiations, Matthew Nimetz, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on the issue, said after a round of talks earlier this month.

Since those talks, Mr. Nimetz has met with President Branko Crvenkoski, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki and Skopje’s primary negotiator on the issue, Ambassador Nikola Dimitrov in Skopje.

The Envoy has also travelled to Thessaloniki for a meeting with Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis, a representative of Greece.

The Interim Accord of 13 September 1995, which was 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.