Delegates meet for UN-mediated talks over naming dispute of "Macedonia"

submitted by europelmbh on 03/11/16 1

SHOTLIST 1. Wide of building which houses the offices of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Matthew Nimetz, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Greece-Macedonia: "For my part I urged the parties to consider all possibilities so that a solution to this dispute can be found within a reasonable time frame. I believe a solution to an issue that divides two neighbouring countries is very much in the interests of both parties and would also greatly contribute to regional peace and security. In an effort to assist the parties in this process I respectfully made some suggestions in the form of a draft framework for their consideration as a basis for an honourable and fair resolution. I have urged Ambassadors Dimitrov and Vassilakis to bring these suggestions to their governments for study." 3. Greek Ambassador to the UN Adamantios Vassilakis standing next to Nimetz 4. SOUNDBITE: (Greek) Adamantios Vassilakis, Greek Ambassador to the UN: ++NO TRANSLATION AVAILABLE++ 5. Vassilakis speaking to media 6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Adamantios Vassilakis, Greek Ambassador to the UN: "Both sides expressed their views in a very honest way. We know that there are certain problems. We want to be helpful; both sides want to find a solution. There are still some views which have to be overcome, but I think if the two countries think over certain things, that the economic cooperation between them is more valuable than other theoretical positions, that would be helpful." 7. Nikola Dimitrov, Ambassador for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, speaking with press 8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Nikola Dimitrov, Ambassador for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: "We see the name as the pillar of our identity and our stability. We need, as the last nation that got statehood in the Balkans, we need some basic dignity to continue to go in the right direction. That's why we repeated basically the position that we are very flexible when it comes to the bilateral communication with Greece, but we have to maintain the position that the constitutional name, we have a right for a constitutional name, to be used internationally, to be used by international organisations and other countries." 8. Dimitrov walking away from press STORYLINE: Greece and Macedonia launched a new round of talks at the UN on Thursday, in an effort to end a dispute that has strained relations between the two neighbours for years, and more recently threatens Macedonia's chances of joining NATO and the EU. Most countries recognise Greece's neighbour as the Republic of Macedonia, but Athens argues the name could imply claims to the Greek province of Macedonia, which is the birthplace of the famous Macedonian Alexander the Great. A meeting between representatives from both countries in New York on Thursday was hosted by Matthew Nimetz, the personal representative of the UN Secretary-General. The new talks are perhaps the most crucial in the sixteen years since the issue first arose. Athens has opposed the use of the name "Macedonia" ever since Skopje seceded from Yugoslavia in 1991, forcing the international community to recognise the country under the title 'The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia'. "I urged the parties to consider all possibilities so that a solution to this dispute can be found within a reasonable time frame. I believe a solution to an issue that divides two neighbouring countries is very much in the interests of both parties and would also greatly contribute to regional peace and security," said Nimetz, who also urged both parties to takes his suggestions to their respective governments for consideration. You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/63b40b751110e66e0e051d791eac92d2 Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

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