Name talks are under way Karamanlis says Greece will not accept dual solution to FYROM dispute Talks aimed at ending the dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) began in New York last night as Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis made it clear that Athens would not accept a dual name as solution to the dispute. The United Nations’ special mediator Matthew Nimetz met with Greek Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis in the Manhattan hotel where the Greek diplomat is staying. Vassilakis informed Nimetz of Athens’s reaction and position on the proposal that the UN official had made to Greece and FYROM last week. After a short break, during which Vassilakis contacted the Foreign Ministry in Athens, Nimetz returned for a second round of talks. Following his meeting with Vassilakis, Nimetz was due to meet with FYROM’s ambassador Nikola Dimitrov later last night. It is thought that the negotiations could drag on through the weekend with the two sides appearing to be poles apart. Nimetz has proposed five composite names to replace the acronym FYROM. The name favored by Athens – as it gives a geographical determination and clearly distinguishes FYROM from the Greek region of Macedonia – is the Republic of Upper Macedonia. Another of Nimetz’s proposals – New Republic of Macedonia – would be subject to debate if it were modified to Republic of New Macedonia, sources in Athens have said. Karamanlis confirmed this in Parliament yesterday when he said that Greece would not accept any name that refers to the type of polity in FYROM, such as Constitutional Republic of Macedonia. He also emphasized that Greece would only agree to a solution that would be used by its neighbors in all its relations, not just the bilateral ones with Greece. “The aim is to achieve a mutually acceptable solution based on a truly composite name that will be applicable to all, erga omnes,” said the premier. Karamanlis reiterated his threat to block FYROM’s entry into NATO if the name dispute is not resolved. “The intransigence of our neighbor is dashing its ambitions to join NATO and the European Union,” said Karamanlis. “If there is no settlement, the neighboring country cannot aspire to join NATO. Our position – no solution, no invite – is clear.”
Map showing the Greek province of Macedonia(white/blue) and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia(red) in the Balkans.

The first part of the bi-lateral negotiations regarding the naming-dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, under the United Nations mediation, ended without agreement in New York. As the U.N. mediator Matthew Nimetz stated earlier there are "substantial differences" - and therefore important disagreements - between the two governments on his proposal made on 19 February, adding that during his separate meetings with the two ambassadors Vassilakis and Dimitrov on Friday, he was listened to the two sides’ questions and views on the issue.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will visit Athens on Monday morning and he will meet with the Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis regarding the name-dispute between Greece and FYRO Macedonia. The Greek government has made clear that if there is no agreement between the two sides (over the official use of the name 'Macedonia') Athens will veto FYRO Macedonia's process in becoming a member of NATO. Yesterday, Karamanlis stated in a Parliament speech that Greece's ''"will for a mutually accepted solution is genuine. Our position ’no solution-no invitation’, is clear. If no solution is reached, then our neighbouring country’s aspiration to join NATO will not be materialized. And this because the principle of good neighbourly relations is a fundamental condition for relations among allies"''. 

Today, according to information presented in the News of the Greek TV station Mega Channel, the United States are pressing the Greek side for a quick solution in order to avoid any problems regarding the NATO invitation to Skopje. It should be noted that the government of FYRO Macedonia insists in the use of its constitutional name (Republic of Macedonia) while Greece suggests a composite name which would include a geographic term. A demonstration of nationalists was organized a few days ago in Skopje, while next week the right wing Greek party LAOS organizes a rally in the city of Thessaloniki asking for national referendum and calling the government to use the right of veto.