Macedonia Forced to Find Name Solutions

So far, several high-level meetings between prime ministers -- Zoran Zaev and Alexis Cipras -- have been held, as well as diplomacy chiefs Nikola Dimitrov and Nikos Kocijas -- and in addition to confirming red lines, other details have not been provided while the process is expected to give impetus to representatives of influential international states.

Following separate meetings of the two prime ministers with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who encouraged them to reach the solution Sunday in Skopje, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is expected to arrive, as well as Euro-parliamentaries Ivo Vajgl, Eduard Kukan and Knut Flkenstein.

International affairs officials say the West as never before is interested in resolving this dispute, not only because of the unblocking of Macedonia's Euro-integration process, but also because of geo-strategic policies in the EU and US region.

“In the international plan, I think that the strategy of NATO and the US, which is our strategic partners, lies that they want to shut down the concept of unresolved issues in the Western Balkans and in this case, Macedonia is viewed as key. So, they want to close the problem about our integration into NATO, but also the European integration process of Serbia and Montenegro”.

In this context, I appreciate that the interests of the biggest players or strategists in the region are compatible with our own interests, that is, to resolve all open issues in the region. This, however, helps the change in governance of the country, as the US and allies now have a stronger partner who, along with improving reports with Bulgaria, will help in reports between east and west, or weakening Russian influence in the region”, says Lubomir Frckovski, former foreign affairs minister.

International affairs acquaintance, former diplomat Alydin Demiri, says the parties continue talks despite the fact that the impression on the opinion is on the impasse of the process, but in all of this process, he sees the role of Western diplomacy as crucial.

“What this diplomatic movement looks like presents the recent encouragement to the parties because the sense of all this pressure is Macedonia's NATO membership and of course all this must be done before July, as the summit NATO is 7 July, and membership can happen here. Apparently at this stage, great diplomacy also requires its role and success in this” contest, Demiri estimates.

Asked whether the Greek side could tacticalise and in recent moments give up the solution, calling for the protection of its interests, Demiri says Athens can tacticalise with certain demands, but not give up the whole process. According to him, Greece does not have what to lose, while its makeup is not as favourable on the international stage taking into account conflicts with other countries as well as Turkey, but also Albania, as well as financial problems with the EU.

“obligedly, it must in this phase towards Macedonia not be avoided, not insisted. There are some tactical setbacks, some requirements that are in service of negotiations, so there are no demands that can prevent the” process, Demiri points out.

In contrast, by the end of February or early March, Greek diplomacy chief Nikos Kociyas is expected to arrive in Macedonia on the first visit of a Greek leader, descending at Skopje Airport following the government's decision to change the name “Great Alexander”. / REL