Macedonia delegation to meet Nimetz in New York

 

Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Milososki announced that Macedonia's delegation taking part at this year's main session of the UN General Assembly in late September would meet with mediator Matthew Nimetz, adding that he had no information on a possible fresh proposal in overcoming the long-standing name dispute with Greece.

In an interview with Alsat TV, Milososki said that Nimetz was an experienced diplomat and was probably expecting some kind of positive signal from the frequent bilateral meetings between Macedonian and Greek officials and a favourable climate to be created in order a breakthrough regarding the issue to be made. According to him, Nimetz had most likely estimated that the long-standing dispute could not be solved only by formal unveiling of new proposals that would be rejected by either of the parties involved or by both parties.

- On Macedonia's part, there is preparedness and pragmatism to overcome this long-standing row, but obviously in terms of the essence of this issue and pragmatism for its settlement, we haven't received any positive signal from Greece, even though the country has demonstrated a fresh openness to communicate with Macedonia's leadership, the FM stated.

Commenting Greek media reports that "Northern" or "Vardar Macedonia" could be acceptable solutions in an effort to close the name row, Milososki refusing to speculate said that it was obvious that Greece had been promoting certain possible initiatives favouring their dimension in settling the issue.

- Nevertheless, we are open for talks in which we will face the power of arguments not the arguments of power, which was the case so far. We expect Greece to realize that this dispute is bilateral and that every state and nation is entitled to own identity, sovereignty, independence, self-determination. In the frameworks of these international rules, we could seek a joint solution, FM Antonio Milososki stressed.

Macedonia delegation to meet Nimetz in New York, no information on fresh proposal for now