UN envoy travels to Greece, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for talks
23 June 2008 - The United Nations mediator in talks between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will head to the
region later this week for another round of consultations on the long-running dispute over the name of the latter
country.
Matthew Nimetz, the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, will be in Athens, where he is expected to meet Greek Foreign
Minister Dora Bakoyannis and other Greek officials, on Thursday.
The envoy is then scheduled to travel to Skopje on Friday for discussions with President Branko Crvenkoski, Prime
Minister Nikola Gruevski and other officials.
Mr. Nimetz has frequently held talks with the two sides in recent months - including a round earlier this month in New
York - to try to reach a deal, but he said in March that there has been no progress on the issue, despite an
acknowledgement by both sides that a solution was in their best interests.
The Interim Accord of 13 September 1995, which was brokered by the UN, details the difference between Athens and Skopje
on the name issue. It obliges the two sides to continue negotiations under the Secretary-General's auspices in a bid to
reach agreement.
ENDS