Greek minister "cuts sounding of provocative anthem"

Source: Tanjug, MIA

ATHENS -- Greek Defense Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos did not allow the sounding of the Macedonian anthem during the visit of his counterpart Talat Xhaferi.

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This was the first time that a Macedonian defense minister visited the Greek Defense Ministry.
Macedonian news agency MIA is quoting Greek media as saying that Avramopoulos "cut the

Macedonian anthem for being provocative, since it mentions the term 'Macedonia' on six occasions."

Greece and its neighbor to the north have been locked in a decades-long dispute over the latter's official name.

According to the media in Athens, "the name issue was one of the main topics on the meeting agenda, with Avramopoulos reiterating Greece's stance, saying a mutually acceptable solution would help solve the chronic problem between the two countries, contributing to harmonization of bilateral relations and enhancement of the region's stability, which is in the interest of Macedonia and Europe."

The two ministers also discussed military cooperation, and signed a one-year agreement on cooperation between the two countries' general staffs.