Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia name talks to restart after Greek polls – UN

Talks between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on the official name of the latter country will restart once the Greek elections are over and a new government is in place, the United Nations envoy dealing with the issue said today.

Matthew Nimetz, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the talks, made the announcement today after his meeting in New York with the President of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Gjorge Ivanov, and the country’s main negotiator for the “name issue,” Zoran Jolevski.

He added that he hopes to develop some momentum, which he believes was already developing during the summer with a number of ideas on the table.

In July, Mr. Nimetz travelled to Athens and Skopje, where he held talks with government officials and conveyed his amended proposals for resolving the issue.

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.