Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Monday said that Ankara supports the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in its name dispute with Greece.
Yildirim spoke at a joint news conference with FYROM Prime Minister Zoran Zaev in the Turkish capital after a meeting between the two officials.
“We are the first country that recognized and assigned an ambassador to Macedonia. Our support for Macedonia’s NATO integration will continue in the future,” Yildirim said in comments reported by Turkish media, adding that Ankara will support the Balkan country in the name dispute with Greece.
The Turkish prime minister said it was wrong for Greece to dictate what FYROM’s official name should be, but added that he hopes the two neighbors can resolve their dispute “amicably”.
Zaev said: “The Republic of Turkey is advocating and supporting a solution that is suitable for both sides. A solution that would be in compliance with NATO and the EU would be suitable for us as well. We want to reach a solution with the support we will get from our biggest friends, because, unfortunately, Greece has been carrying on this problem with us for 25 years.”
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