The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-03-25

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] On the FYROM Name Row

25 Mar 2008 20:55:00 (Last updated: 25 Mar 2008 22:36:42)

By Anna Kourti

Sources: ΝΕΤ, ΝΕΤ 105.8, ANA-MPA

The UN-sponsored talks on the FYROM name dispute between the negotiators of Greece and FYROM, Adamantios Vassilakis and Nikola Dimitrov respectively, have opened at the UN headquarters in New York. UN envoy Matthew Nimetz, who is supervising the process, will have separate meetings with the two negotiators and then a joint one. However, Nimetz is expected to make statements after 11.30pm Greek local time. Information on what FYROMs stance will be is sketchy. However, the UN envoy did not appear that optimistic over the outcome of the negotiations. In the meantime, the time given to the two sides to reach an agreement is running out, as the NATO Summit in Bucharest is only a week away.

In her statements, the Greek Foreign Minister noted that Nikola Gruevskis statements just a few hours prior to the crucial meeting contributed little to the campaign. We [Greece] will not follow this strategy. Greece has long before suggested a breakthrough to the 17-year-long deadlock, a solution on the basis of a composite name. This position will be recorded today, as well, stressed Dora Bakoyannis, also adding that ally relations cannot be built upon pending issues.

On his part, FYROM Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski underlined that he would not come to terms with any change to his countrys constitutional name, while he lashed out at the countrys President who spoke of a rational compromise on the name issue.

At the same time, in his interview with Associated Press, the FYROM Foreign Minister threatened to halt the talks if Greece vetoed FYROMs NATO bid.

Translated by Areti Christou

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