Despite hopes expressed by US Vice President Mike Pence that Greece and FYROM are faced with a historic opportunity to settle the ‘Macedonia’ name dispute, Athens rejected Skopje’s proposal to adopt the name ‘Republic of Ilinden Macedonia’ as a compromise solution.
Following a round of talks over the weekend premier Alexis Tsipras announced that no agreement will be reached on this specific compound name on the basis it implies territorial claims over Greece. The leaders of the New Democracy, Movement For Change, To Potami and the KKE communist party all rejected the proposal that was made on Friday by FYROM Prime Minister Zoran Zaev agreeing it is irredentist, Kathimerini reports.
Ilinden reportedly refers to a 1944 anti-Nazi uprising in the Balkans during which talks of unification of the geographic area of Macedonia that would include parts of Greece were prominent.
“Greece will continue working with FYROM to find a commonly accepted compound name with geographical or time designation and against all (erga omnes)… A solution, that would include changes in the FYROM’s constitution that will erase territorial ambitions towards Greece, should be based on the the package of proposals tabled by UN special envoy, Matthew Nimetz,” the statement from the Prime Minister’s office clarified.
The names previously put forward by the UN were Republika Nova Makedonija (Republic of New Macedonia), Republika Severna Makedonija (Republic of Northern Macedonia), Republika Gorna Makedonija (Republic of Upper Macedonia), Republika Vardarska Makedonija (Republic of Macedonia of Vardar) and Republika Makedonija (Skopje) [Republic of Macedonia (Skopje)].
“We are at a crucial point of the negotiation, we defend the national line with cautious and responsible steps.
“We are working for a solution that will not be fragile and will not collapse in a few months, which will not affect the dignity and the history of both peoples,” Mr Tsipras concluded.