Macedonia: Measures for better relations with Greece

Source: Tanjug

SKOPJE -- The Macedonian government has proposed a set of measures aimed at intensifying the country’s relations with Greece.

A view of Skopje (Tanjug, file)

The two countries’ relations have been at a standstill for a long time due to a several-decade long dispute over Macedonia’s name.
Greece has blocked Macedonia’s EU integration process over the name dispute.

At a press conference on Saturday, Macedonian government Spokesman Aleksandar Gjorgjiev presented an agenda that envisages meetings between state representatives and officials, signing of the a cooperation declaration, a joint education-historical committee, a joint contact-center of the Interior Ministries and opening of a new border crossing near Dorjane.

The future meetings will be aimed at improving the dialogue and strengthening mutual trust, according to Gjorgjiev. He added that the two countries’ ministers and PMs would meet and that it would intensify the talks in the UN and help Macedonia and Greece reach a solution.

Commenting on Greece’s statements that the EU door will be closed for Macedonia if it keeps insisting on “macedonianism”, Gjorgjiev said his country would not go into debates aimed at diverting the attention from the crucial issue – solving the name dispute.