Meeting at the Sofia summit, the Macedonian and Greek Prime Ministers said they have narrowed down one possible solution for the long-standing bilateral name dispute, which they will now take back to their countries for consideration.
After meeting at the sidelines of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Sofia on Thursday, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras have pinpointed one option for a possible solution to their countries’ long dispute over Macedonia’s name.
Zaev said this option, which was not disclosed in detail, would now travel back to both countries to seek support from other relevant political factors and in search of institutional ways concerning how it could be implemented.
“If it is possible, there will be a solution,” Zaev told a press conference in Sofia after his talks with Tsipras.
Although the Macedonian leader at the press conference avoided mentioning the term “solution” too often, he did confirm that he had reached an agreement with Tsipras on how the compromise between the two countries should look like.
But he said that, for a final solution to be found, they would both have to consult other political factors in their respective countries.
“We have pinpointed one option that may be acceptable for both sides,” Zaev said.
But, he added: “I am Zoran, and my partner is Alexis, and we have to consult with the other political factors in our countries, with the presidents and with the other political leaders”.
The “name” dispute centres on Greece’s insistence that use of the word Macedonia implies a territorial claim to the northern Greek province of the same name.
For more read the full of article at The Balkaninsight
