UN mediator says grounds for solving Macedonia name row

(ATHENS) - A senior UN mediator said Friday that Athens and Skopje shared grounds for resolving a 19-year row over the name Macedonia after receiving Greek assurances of its commitment to do so.

While differences remain between the two countries, "I do believe there is a basis for a solution here," said Matthew Nimetz, chief UN mediator in the dispute, after talks with Greece's deputy foreign minister Dimitri Droutsas.

However, he added, "there is no decision so far about a meeting of two sides".

Nimetz arrived in Athens Friday morning after meeting the day before with Macedonian leaders on the matter.

Greece said this week it favoured Macedonia's name including a "geographical determinant," even as it accused Skopje of blocking a resolution. In the past Greek media have suggested "Northern Macedonia" as a possibility.

"We have sent a positive message and we expect to see the same message to come back," Greek foreign ministry spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras told reporters Friday. "It's the moment to move forward."

Greece has blocked international recognition of its northern neighbour under the name of Macedonia since it became an independent nation in the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1991.

Macedonia joined the United Nations in 1993 under the provisional name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), but the name dispute has stalled its efforts to join the European Union.

Athens has insisted the row be resolved before it agrees to the start of Macedonia's European Union accession talks, which requires unanimous support from all EU members.