Greece accepts Macedonian name proposal

Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas stated today in an interview with Greek Sky TV that the name of "Republic of North Macedonia" would be acceptable to Athens in regards to its name dispute with Skopje. Droutsas said that "UN mediator Matthew Nimetz presented the idea of the name 'Republic of North Macedonia.' 'The Greek position on the name issue is known; it wants a composite name with a geographic qualifier that is used in relations with all other states, so it is obvious that this idea meets Greek expectations.'" Athens insists that Macedonia's constitutional name of the "Republic of Macedonia" implies territorial aspirations towards its own northern province of the same name. NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Security, Cooperation, and Partnership Robert Simmons stated that Macedonia will be invited to join NATO as soon as the "name" issue is resolved.