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New optimism on Macedonia name row: EU commissioner

05 September 2011, 16:38 CET
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(SKOPJE) - The EU's enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele on Monday said he felt that Macedonia and Greece are closer to resolving a long-running name row that has blocked Skopje's entry to the bloc.

"I am optimistic on the name issue," Fuele said during a joint press conference with Macedonia's Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.

"I think that in the last months there is a new sense of trust and confidence between the prime ministers and I see both (of them) willing to solve this issue and move forward."

Fuele was in Skopje to prepare for the annual progress report for the country which will be presented in October. Macedonia has officially been a candidate for European Union membership since 2005 but its entry remains blocked by Greece.

The Athens government believes that the name Macedonia implies a territorial claim on its province of the same name, while Skopje insists the name is essential to its identity.

"Macedonia remains active in a search for a solution over the name row with Greece under UN auspices in order to find a mutually acceptable outcome that would not harm... neither Macedonian nor Greek nation," Gruevski said.

He urged the EU to "continue working on the enlargment process, which has never been more important for the Balkans."

The two countries have been seeking a solution of a name issue that arose after Macedonia proclaimed independence from former Yugoslavia in 1991. UN mediation has so far been fruitless.

"The name issue remains essential in order to deepen our relations, a solution will be good for the country, for its people and for business," Fuele said adding there is "an important momentum right now" with Croatia, another former Yugoslav republic which is to join the bloc in 2013.

Fuele also stressed that the name issue was not the only thing Skopje would have to solve to get a date for accession talks citing a need for more judicial reforms and implementation of laws already in place.


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