Macedonia Considers Becoming 'Republic of Macedonia (Skopje)'

Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki has indicated Macedonia could be ok with adopting a new name - "Republic of Macedonia (Skopje)." EPA/BGNES

Macedonia has made it clear it is ready to a compromise with Greece with respect to the notorious dispute over the country's name.

In a formal letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki has declared that Macedonia could agree to one of the proposals for renaming the country suggested by special UN envoy Matthew Nimetz – namely, "Republic of Macedonia (Skopje)."

The Foreign Minister of Macedonia, however, has underscored that the new name could be adopted only after a general referendum.

"The official authorities in Athens are investing a lot of funds, efforts, and energy in diplomacy in order to present Macedonia to the world as a country that hinders the finding of a solution for this 20-year-old dispute," Milososki says in his letter to Ban Ki-moon, as cited by Kanal 5, not missing the opportunity to slam Greece.

Milososki's letter to the UN chief was sent about two weeks ago, apparently shortly after Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski was in the USA for talks with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden, as he did not meet with US President Barack Obama.

The notorious "name dispute" is based on Greek concerns with Macedonia's constitutional name ("Republic of Macedonia") because much of Northern Greece is called "Macedonia" as an administrative district. Therefore, recognizing the same name for its neighbor could legitimize potential territorial claims by Skopje.

Because of the name dispute, Greece has so far vetoed Macedonia's accession to NATO, and blockaded the start of EU accession talks with Macedonia. Because of the Greek position the Republic of Macedonia was admitted to the UN under the made-up name of "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Macedonia)."