Silegov: Historic day for Skopje and Athens


The municipalities of Skopje and Athens signed Friday an agreement for cooperation. The document was signed by the mayors of the capitals of Macedonia and Greece, Petre Silegov and Georgios Kaminis respectively. “After signing the agreement, Skopje and Athens will start sharing information, experiences, new practices and nourishing cooperation in various spheres of our duties and competences, […]

Juncker: Name issue needs urgent solution


The name issue should be solved by you, I am not in charge of giving ideas or guidelines, but I will underscore the urgency that characterizes the name row settlement, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, said in an address in the Parliament of Greece. “Mr. President, I will say something before the MPs […]

Silegov and Kaminis to sign Skopje-Athens cooperation agreement


 Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis on Thursday and Friday will visit Skopje where the mayors of the capitals of Macedonia and Greece – Skopje and Athens – will sign a cooperation agreement, said the Municipality of Athens on Tuesday. Kaminis’ trip to Skopje is a return visit after he hosted Skopje Mayor Petre Silegov during his visit […]

Tzanakopoulos: Compound name should be accepted as constitutional


The new compound name once we reach an agreement should be also the constitutional name of the neighboring country, a spokesman of the Greek government told a press briefing on Monday after being asked by a MIA correspondent on whether Greece would accept a name that would be used only internationally, but not within the […]

Ta Nea: Berlin to award Athens in case of name settlement


In case of settling the dispute over Macedonia’s name, Berlin will allow Athens to postpone an implementation of austerity measure – cutting of pensions – for six months, according to Greek newspaper Ta Nea. Citing credible European sources, the paper says that the measure, which should be set into force on 1 January 2019, would […]

Tzanakopoulos: More steps required for name solution


Greek government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos has voiced conviction over the political prerequisites and will for a solution to the name issue, adding that more steps are required for an agreement, MIA reports from Athens. “I believe there are political prerequisites and will for an agreement, but a long way is still ahead in the talks. […]

Papadimoulis: Chance for solving name dispute should not be missed


“We shouldn’t miss the chance to solve this issue. The Zoran Zaev-led government has opened a window of opportunity. There are difficulties, which in fact have left the row unsolved for 25 years. It is in our national interest to find a solution to the name issue,” the Vice President of the European Parliament said in […]

Koumoutsakos: Opposition more concerned after FM Kotzias’ briefing on name talks


We are more concerned after the briefing of Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias on the pace of Athens-Skopje name talks, Giorgos Koumoutsakos, the shadow foreign minister of Greek opposition party ‘New Democracy, said on Thursday. ‘The New Democracy holds to its position that the solution must be complex, comprehensive and final, namely one that will meet […]

Katrougalos: There is progress in name talks, ball in other side’s court


– Greek Alternate Minister for Foreign Affairs Georgios Katrougalos is a moderate optimist regarding the name issue settlement, saying the ball is in the other side’s court. “With regards to a solution, I am still a moderate optimist there is a window of opportunity and certain progress has been made on many issues. The ball is […]

Tzanakopoulos: Compound name for all uses


  “I hope our neighbors will continue to negotiate through good will so that we reach a mutually acceptable solution”, says Greek government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos, MIA reports from Athens. In an interview with Greek TV station Blue Sky, Tzanakopoulos reiterated the Greek positions of a compound name for all uses, without entering into details […]

Name dispute among topics on meeting between Tsipras and Kammenos


  Name issue was one of the topics discussed at the meeting between Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his coalition partner Panos Kammenos held Tuesday in Prime Minister’s palace in Athens. Kammenos after the meeting told that the position of Independent Greeks (ANEL) opposing the use of term Macedonia is unchanged adding that the […]

Theodorakis: Government to present name proposals in Parliament after Easter


-“The government intends to acquire certain proposals through the talks and present them to the parliament after Easter. This goes both for Albania and Skopje”, says Potami leader Stavros Theodorakis. In an interview with Greek radio Skai, Tjeodorakis referred to the name issue, reiterating the stance of his party and the centre-left Movement of Change, […]

Theodorakis: Government to present name proposals in Parliament after Easter


-“The government intends to acquire certain proposals through the talks and present them to the parliament after Easter. This goes both for Albania and Skopje”, says Potami leader Stavros Theodorakis. In an interview with Greek radio Skai, Tjeodorakis referred to the name issue, reiterating the stance of his party and the centre-left Movement of Change, […]

Greek media: Kotzias to visit Skopje on March 22-23


According to Athens daily newspaper ‘Ta Nea’, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias will arrive in Skopje on March 22 for a two-day visit. The article entitled “After a slight delay, Kotzias in Skopje” describes his visit as important as the talks will focus on “the Greek proposals and the corresponding Skopje proposals” for an agreement […]

Greek media: Kotzias to visit Skopje on March 22-23


According to Athens daily newspaper ‘Ta Nea’, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias will arrive in Skopje on March 22 for a two-day visit. The article entitled “After a slight delay, Kotzias in Skopje” describes his visit as important as the talks will focus on “the Greek proposals and the corresponding Skopje proposals” for an agreement […]

Kathimerini: Agreement has been reached on the name, the scope of use and acronyms


In three chapters, according to the Greek “Kathimerini”, the agreement between Skopje and Athens was reached on the name, scope and acronyms. The newspaper comments that the negotiations are turning into an unsolvable puzzle despite the initial increased optimism from Athens. The Greek government, as Kathimerini writes, now faces the opposition New Democracy, which seeks […]

Bakoyannis: Name package, not partial solution


Greek opposition party New Democracy says the name dispute should be a package solution, not a partial one. MP and former foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis has also criticized the Greek government over the way it is conducting the negotiations, MIA reports from Athens. “The Tsipras government has launched the negotiations without knowing the aim. We […]

Opposition leader Mitsotakis slams Greek PM over poor handling of name negotiations


Everybody is already aware that the government handling of Skopje-Athens name negotiations has been wrong from the start, leader of Greek opposition New Democracy Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a speech before his party’s parliamentary group. ‘Without a plan, guarantees they (the government) has started to give in everything being satisfied only with two symbolic gestures […]