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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-04-16
CONTENTS
[01] FM spokesman 'name issue'
[01] FM spokesman 'name issue'
A Greek foreign ministry spokesman on Wednesday again fielded a bevy of
press questions regarding the outstanding FYROM 'name issue', as the
focus has again shifted back to diplomatic efforts by a United Nations
mediator to achieve a compromise between Athens and Skopje ahead of
pending EU and NATO summits this year.
"Greece, both before and after Bucharest (the NATO summit), emphasised
that it remains actively involved in the UN negotiating process. First
off, it's very positive that this negotiating process is continuing
with the upcoming visits to Athens and Skopje by the UN General
Secretary's special envoy, Matthew Nimetz," spokesman George
Koumoutsakos said, adding:
"At the same time, it is obvious that the fact the neighbouring country
(the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) is now in a pre-election
period is also being taken into serious consideration."
Moreover, asked by reporters over various press reports regarding "name
proposals", Koumoutsakos merely reiterated the Greek foreign ministry's
standing position of engaging in speculation on the sensitive topic,
stressing that Greece has already and repeatedly outlined the
fundamental aspects that any proposal must meet in order to be
considered a basis for negotiation.
Asked whether Athens considers the FYROM representative in UN talks,
Amb. Nikola Dimitrov, as a credible negotiator, given his recent
eye-brow-raising statements, Koumoutsakos said that, at this stage,
discussions will take place within the framework of the UN mediator's
mandate, meaning separate contacts in Skopje and Athens.
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