Greece argues it has strong political will to resolve the name dispute with Macedonia, but blames Skopje for the current deadlock. “It was not me who denied all the meetings; it was not me who changed negotiator,” Greek foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis told journalists.

“We need to have strong political will if we want to solve the problem,” she added.

Bakoyannis was taking part in the two day Nato foreign ministers’s meeting in Brussels.

For the first time, ministers from Albania and Croatia were invited to participate after both countries were invited by the alliance to join Nato at the Bucharest summit in April. Greece however blocked the invitation for Macedonia, due to the unresolved name dispute between two countries.

Nato foreign ministers confirmed that the invitation to Macedonia would be extended “as soon as a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue has been reached within the framework of the United Nations and urge intensified efforts towards that goal.”

“At the same time, we will continue to support and assist the reform efforts of the government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,” the foreign ministers said in their final document.

Ahead of the Nato foreign ministers meeting, Macedonia’s foreign and defence ministers Antonio Milososki and Zoran Konjanovski sent a letter to Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, noting the importance of Macedonia’s Nato membership for the stability of the region.

“Despite the disappointing outcome for Macedonia at the Bucharest summit, the government remains fully committed to achieving membership in the alliance,” the two wrote.

Bakoyannis confirmed she was aware of the letter but warned that Skopje has to show good will in solving the name dispute.

“But it takes two to tango,” Bakoyanis urged. She also warned that “Skopje’s political rhetoric against Greece,” is unhelpful, and asked Macedonia’s authorities to show more understanding.

Athens argues that Macedonia’s name might lead to Skopje making territorial claims over its own northern province which is also called Macedonia.

Since April, the UN-sponsored talks for finding a solution to the row have intensified but so far in vain. After Skopje took Athens before the World Court over Greece’s effective veto of Macedonia’s Nato membership bid last month, the talks have ground to a halt.

Source: Balkan Insight