Published statements by the prime minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Nikola Gruevski, regarding Skopje’s insistence on a “double-name formula” to overcome the thorny “name issue” still plaguing bilateral relations between the two neighbours have been dismissed by the Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis last week.

“This statement shows that Mr. Gruevski has not realised the message of the international community, which is clear and unified: for the sake of his country’s and his people’s Euro-Atlantic course, a mutually acceptable solution to this issue must be achieved; a composite name with a geographical qualifier, erga omnes,” the Greek foreign minister underlined in a press release.

The FYROM prime minister was quoted by a local political magazine as stating that the “double-name” solution constitutes a “natural position” for his landlocked country.

He also accused official Greece of insisting that the one-time Yugoslav republic alter its constitutional name to “Republic of Northern Macedonia” both for external and internal use.