Ban Meets With Senior Official From Macedonia

Ban Meets With Senior Official From Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia

New York, Sep 27 2010 8:10PM

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon held talks today with the Foreign Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, discussing the country’s long-running dispute with neighbouring Greece over its official name.

Mr. Ban and Antonio Milososki exchanged views on the status of United Nations-led negotiations between Athens and Skopje to resolve the so-called “name issue,” according to information released by the Secretary-General’s spokesperson.

Athens and Skopje contest the official name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and the Interim Accord of 13 September 1995, which was brokered by the UN, details the difference between the two nations on the issue.

It also obliges them countries to continue negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General to try to reach agreement. Since 1999, Matthew Nimetz, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on the issue, has been holding talks with the two sides and proposed compromise names.

During their tête-à-tête today Mr. Ban and Mr. Milososki also discussed the contributions of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to UN peacekeeping operations.

ENDS

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