NATO says no to FYROM

Nato leaders meeting in Chicago for a summit have confirmed that FYROM will only be admitted to the military alliance upon the resolution of the naming issue with Greece.
 
Speaking to reporters at the summit on Sunday, Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis said that "some isolated attempts were made" to alter a 2008 Nato decision that said that FYROM membership could only come after it had reached an agreement with Greece regarding its name.
 

"The summit reaffirmed the [2008] Bucharest summit decisions, and this it is confirmed that the neighbouring country will be invited to join Nato only after the name issue has been resolved," said Molyviatis.
 

He added that he had the opportunity to meet with many European leaders, including French President Francois Hollande, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, with he said he had "a lengthy discussion".
 

"The conclusion is that Greece is at the focus of interest, but also concern, of everyone," the minister said.
Molyviatis also had a brief discussion with US President Barack Obama during a welcome reception before the summit.
 
The main order of business at the summit was the alliance's role in Afghanistan.
 

The first day of the summit concluded with a dinner for the leaders, which was attended by Molyviatis.
The country was represented at a parallel dinner for foreign ministers by foreign ministry secretary general Ioannis Alexios-Zepos.
 
Defence Minister Frangoulis Frangos, who is also attending the summit, took part in a dinner of the defence ministers.
 
Baton-swinging police clashed with anti-war protesters marching on the summit and a lawyers' group representing the demonstrators said at least 12 people were injured, some with head wounds from police batons. 

Source: AMNA, Athens News, Reuters