UN envoy in fresh talks on former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia name issue

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 fly to the region this week to try to reactivate efforts to settle the issue.

Matthew Nimetz, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, is scheduled to be in Skopje on Thursday and then Athens on Friday, UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters today.

A follow-up round of discussions is then expected to take place, probably in New York, Ms. Okabe added.

Mr. Nimetz told journalists last month that there had been no progress on the “name issue,” despite intense efforts in recent months to broker a solution and the acknowledgement by both sides that a solution would be in their best interests.

The envoy had proposed several compromise names but Skopje and Athens remained far apart on what they considered to be a satisfactory name for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The Interim Accord of 13 September 1995, which was brokered by the UN, details the difference between the two countries on the issue. It also obliges the two sides to continue negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General to try to reach agreement.