Newly – elected president of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, George Ivanov, has made the resolution of a long-running dispute with Greece over his country’s name, his highest priority.
The name dispute with Greece was “above all’’, Mr Ivanov said last week.
“Our first task will be to resolve the name issue with our southern neighbor Greece,” Ivanov said. “I am sure we can find common interest and compromise. I am sure Greece will be cooperative on the issue.”
The question of FYROM’s name remains an obstacle to FYROM’s hopes of joining the European Union (and NATO military alliance), added the former political scientist.
FYROM applied for EU membership in 2005 but its application has stalled repeatedly.
The inability of both nations to find an acceptable solution has seen Greece veto FYROM’s entry into NATO.
