Greece, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia agree to fresh UN-mediated talks

Representatives of Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have agreed to a fresh round of United Nations-mediated talks to resolve their long-running dispute over the official name of the latter country.

Matthew Nimetz, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the talks between the two countries, will host two days of discussions in New York, starting on 16 January.

A spokesperson for the UN said that Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis of Greece and Ambassador Zoran Jolevski have agreed to participate in the talks.

The spokesperson said Mr. Nimetz will meet with the two representatives separately at first and try to develop a mutually acceptable approach to re-invigorate the talks and to make progress towards resolving the name issue.

A UN-brokered interim accord in 1995 details the differences between the two countries over the name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It obliges both Athens and Skopje to continue negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General to try to reach an agreement, but so far they have not succeeded.