Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev says that talks between Macedonia and neighboring Greece on his country’s name are in a “final” phase, adding that a referendum on whatever solution is found will be held in the autumn.

“Today, tomorrow, or on Friday at the latest, I will speak with [Greek Prime Minister Alexis] Tsipras, after which I expect a breakthrough in the talks,” Zaev said on May 30 at a news conference marking one year since he took office.

The name dispute between Macedonia and Greece dates back to 1991, when Skopje declared independence following the collapse of communist Yugoslavia.

Athens objects to Macedonia's name because it has a northern province called Macedonia and fears it may imply territorial ambitions.

The dispute has hampered Macedonia's ambitions to join both the European Union and NATO.

Zaev did not reveal any details about the possible compromise name or names that are currently on the table, but said that in any case Macedonia’s identity would be protected.

Any new name for his country that is agreed with Greece will be put to a referendum to be held “in September or October, when we expect the citizens to give us directions for our future moves,” he also said.

Before the referendum is held, Zaev said the expected agreement would be put to parliament for ratification in order to allow Greece to lift its blockade in NATO ahead of the military alliance’s summit in July.

Greece has said it is prepared to lift its objection to Macedonia's membership in NATO if an agreement on the name issue can be reached.

After meeting in Brussels on May 28, the foreign ministers of Greece and Macedonia said that they have completed the main round of negotiations on the contentious issue and were ready to hand the final stage over to the countries' prime ministers.

With reporting by AP and Balkan Insight

</s>Talks to end Greece-Macedonia name dispute near final stage

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The foreign ministers of Greece and Macedonia say they have concluded the main round of negotiations to end a long-standing dispute over the Macedonia name, with the final stage of talks to be led by the countries' prime ministers.

Foreign ministers Nikos Kotzias of Greece and Nikola Dimitrov of Macedonia met in Brussels on the sidelines of a European Union meeting Monday. In separate statements, they said further negotiations on the name issue would be directed by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Macedonia's Zoran Zaev.

Zaev's government has committed to modifying the republic's name to address Greek concerns that the current name implies a territorial claim to Greece's Macedonia region.

In return, Athens has promised to lift its objections to Macedonia's NATO membership.

The Republic of Macedonia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.</s>Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said he wants to hold a referendum on a new name for the country in September or October, as talks with Greece over a decades-old naming dispute reach the “final stage.”

In a press conference on Wednesday marking his government’s first year in office, Zaev told reporters in Skopje he is expecting a phone call from Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras by “Friday at the latest,” after which Zaev expects a “breakthrough in the talks.”

The two countries have been working to resolve a debate on Macedonia’s name which has seen Greece block the country’s NATO and EU membership bids. Zaev refused to disclose any potential country names until a final settlement is officially reached, but the Macedonian leader promised the identity of the country would be protected.

The Macedonian prime minister’s announcement comes after Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and his Macedonian counterpart Nikola Dimitrov concluded negotiations in Brussels on Monday, according to Greece’s Ekathimerini. “The documents that have been drafted at a ministerial level will be delivered to the two prime ministers who will discuss between themselves and reach a final deal,” Kotzias said.

Zaev told reporters that before a referendum can be held, any agreement would need to be ratified by parliament. He said he hopes Greece will lift its opposition to NATO membership by a July summit of the alliance.

Greece’s Kotzias said resolving the name dispute is in Greece’s “national interest.”</s>Amid hopes of a solution on the "Macedonia" name dispute, the prime minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Zoran Zaev clarified, during a press conference on Wednesday organized to mark the first year of his government's work, that "there is still no final agreement" but "an agreement on the principles, and the formal and legal aspect of the agreement."

A telephone conversation with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras could be held "tonight, tomorrow or Friday," Zaev said, adding he expects to make a step forward.

Zaev did not disclose published information on the steps to be taken if an agreement on the name dispute is reached in terms of obtaining an EU membership date, an invitation to join NATO and a referendum on which citizens will have to say the final word on the agreement with Greece.

"There will be a referendum, citizens have the final vote," Zaev said, adding that "citizens are waiting for leadership, true patriots are the ones that provide a future for the citizens."

He said that the language and the identity of citizens have been confirmed in the planned agreement with Greece, and that the two countries had never been closer to a solution. Zaev also confirmed that FYROM aimed to ratify the agreement in Parliament by a majority of votes before a referendum so that Greece can send a letter to NATO in order for FYROM to receive an invitation to join the Alliance.

"We will become a NATO member after solving the name issue," Zaev said.

He repeated that FYROM will have its "fourth Ilinden" and said that it yearns "for a Macedonia in which citizens are free from prejudices and fears of the past."

Zaev refused to comment on whether the proposed name "Ilinden Macedonia" is still on the negotiating table.</s>Macedonia's prime minister said Wednesday that any new name for his country that is agreed with neighboring Greece will be put to a referendum to be held later this year.

Zoran Zaev said Skopje and Athens have never been closer to reaching an agreement over Macedonia's name, which has been the subject of a decades-long dispute.

Macedonia's government has committed to modifying the republic's name to address Greek concerns that the current one implies territorial claims on the northern Greek province of the same name. In return, Athens has promised to lift its objections to Macedonia's NATO and European Union membership.

Zaev said a referendum on whatever solution is found will be held in September or October, and that both countries' parliaments will have had to ratify the deal beforehand.

The prime minister didn't specify what the new name might be, but said an "important conversation" with Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras on the issue should take place by Friday.

Several options were in play for the Balkan country's new name, including Republic of Northern Macedonia, Republic of Upper Macedonia, and the latest Macedonian proposal Republic of Ilinden Macedonia, which Athens has rejected.

"I would not comment on certain benchmarks, adjectives or additions to the name because we are in the final phase of a possible solution for a more than 25-year-old problem," Zaev told a news conference marking one year since he took office.</s>Macedonia's prime minister says any new name for his country that is agreed with neighboring Greece will be put to a referendum to be held later this year.

Speaking at a news conference marking one year since he took office, Zoran Zaev said Wednesday that Skopje and Athens have never been closer to reaching an agreement over Macedonia's name, which has been the subject of a decades-long dispute.

Macedonia's government has committed to modifying the republic's name to address Greek concerns that the current one implies territorial claims on the northern Greek province of the same name. In return, Athens has promised to lift its objections to Macedonia's NATO and European Union membership

Zaev said a referendum on whatever solution is found will be held in September or October.</s>Talks to settle the long-running dispute between Greece and Macedonia over the name Macedonia are in their final stage, the two foreign ministers said Monday.

Greece’s Nikos Kotzias and Nikola Dimitrov of Macedonia both say their prime ministers will take over the talks after several legal and technical issues are worked out.

Dimitrov told reporters in Brussels Monday there could be a final agreement before an EU summit at the end of June.

Macedonia is the name of a former Yugoslav republic and a historic ancient area of northern Greece.

Both countries have been feuding over the use of the name since the country Macedonia gained independence in 1991.

Many Greeks say allowing the neighboring country to use the name insults Greek history and implies a claim on Greek territory.

Some Macedonians say changing their country's name or even modifying it in a deal with Greece would be like committing treason.

Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has proposed changing his country's name to "New Macedonia" or possibly “Upper Macedonia” in exchange for Greece dropping its blocking of Macedonian membership in NATO.</s>ATHENS: Talks to end a decades-old row between Greece and Macedonia over the name of the former Yugoslav republic are in “the final stage”, the Macedonian foreign minister Nikola Dimitrov said Monday after negotiations in Brussels.

Dimitrov made the comment to the Greek state agency ANA after meeting his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias on Sunday on the sidelines of EU foreign ministers’ talks.“Negotiations will continue between experts on legal and technical issues,” said Dimitrov, saying that the deal was in its “final stage” and could be agreed before a scheduled EU summit at the end of June.

The name dispute between the two countries dates back to 1991, when Skopje declared independence from war-torn Yugoslavia.Athens objects to the neighbouring state’s constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, because Greece has its own northern province called Macedonia, and fears it may imply territorial ambitions.

Greece wants the change of name to be backed with a constitutional amendment and for it to be applied on the “erga omnes” (“towards all”) legal principle, meaning universal use inside and outside Macedonia.EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said she held an “informal working breakfast” with Dimitrov and that discussions were moving forward.

“We are all very encouraged by the progress made especially on the negotiations between Skopje and Athens on the (Macedonia) name issue. We will all work to support and accompany, hopefully, a positive outcome of these important negotiations,” Mogherini told media before attending the EU foreign ministers meeting.

Names already put forward and in discussion include “New Macedonia” and “Upper Macedonia”. A telephone conversation could take place this week between Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev to finalise the deal, Dimitrov said. Kotzias said that the two foreign ministers had “finished the work that their prime ministers had entrusted to them”.—</s>SKOPJE: The new name chosen for Macedonia as part of a deal to end a bitter feud with neighbouring Greece will be put to a public vote, premier Zoran Zaev said on Wednesday (May 30).

The announcement came after the foreign ministers of both countries held talks in Brussels to resolve the decades-old row over Macedonia's name. Following Monday's discussions, Skopje said the negotiations were in "the final stages".

"We agree on the foundations and principles of the accord," Zaev told journalists on Wednesday.

He said more information would be disclosed after a planned phone call with his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras on Wednesday evening or Thursday.

"We'll only reveal all the details afterwards," Zaev said.

The dispute dates back to 1991, when Skopje declared independence from war-torn Yugoslavia.

Athens objects to its neighbour's constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, because Greece has its own northern province called Macedonia, and fears it may imply territorial ambitions.

Greece wants the change of name to be backed with a constitutional amendment and for it to be applied on the "erga omnes" ("towards all") legal principle, meaning universal use inside and outside Macedonia.

The dispute has slowed Macedonia's hopes of joining the European Union and NATO, as Greece can veto the country's membership bids.

A number of countries including the United States and Russia have already recognised the country as "Macedonia".

Macedonia's parliament will need to ratify the deal before a referendum can be held, Zaev said, adding he expected the gap between both events to be "around a month".

"We want to give Greece sufficient time to send a letter to NATO" before a Jul 11-12 summit, the leader said.

Names already put forward and in discussion include "New Macedonia" and "Upper Macedonia".

"There are no secrets or unknown (factors)," Zaev said Wednesday without elaborating.

A senior Macedonian government official told AFP that "Upper Macedonia" was a favourite.</s>Athens and Skopje are close to resolving the name issue, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev told a May 30 news conference in Skopje, on the occasion of his government’s one-year in office.

“We have never been closer to finding a solution to the name issue than we are today, while friendship between the peoples of the two countries is stronger than ever.”

The agreement confirms the existence of a Macedonian language and shapes the identity, Zaev said. He reiterated that the solution to be promoted would be put to a national referendum, which he placed near the end of September and early October.

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According to Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, talks with Greece on Macedonia's name are in a final phase. Zaev says that if a compromise name for the country is agreed upon, it will be put to a referendum.