“Conditions are overripe (for a name solution), given that we’ve been waiting for more than two decades,” said FYROM Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, on the controversial issue of the name of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Poposki spoke to Kathimerini daily ahead of his official visit to Athens on Thursday. It will be the first visit to Greece by a FYROM high-ranking official since Alexander Dimitrov’s in 2000. It follows the visit of Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias to Skopje in July.
The two countries are in an ongoing dispute over the name of Greece’s northern neighbor.“We have no intention to surprise – at least not negatively – but to express our earnest willingness and friendship,” FYROM’s foreign minister said regarding his visit.
“There should be no animosity between us. In contrast, over the past 20 years it has become apparent that there is a lot in common between the two peoples. Particularly in terms of way of thinking and behavior, one could say we are first cousins,” Poposki said.
“As far as the differences are concerned, it is our firm belief that we have made a lot of compromises, from changing the constitution and the flag, to accepting the disrespectful temporary name at the UN, etc. On the other hand, the list of the concessions being demanded seems endless,” he said.
“For there to be a successful outcome we need to feel that you are not making excessive demands of us. We are both proud nations. The happiness of the strongest should not be at the expense of his neighbor. What is encouraging, though, is that we agree on the benefits of a rapprochement in all the practical areas, Poposki further said.
Regarding the pressing issue of the refugee inflow and the migrants stranded along the border between the two neighboring countries, Poposki told Kathimerini that, “Greece’s aim is for all the migrants to move on to Northern Europe as fast as possible and that means through our country. The reasoning is that Greece does not have unlimited resources and the inflow on the islands is constant. We understand that. Our duty, however, is not to take in more than we can record and ensure humane and safe transport through the European route. For this to work, we need a greater effort from Greece in registration and a European response, which can be implemented, in relation to long-term trends.”
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