SKOPJE -- A mediator in the Macedonia name dispute, that has been
ongoing for 20 years now, has reportedly suggested "the Upper Republic
of Macedonia" as a solution.
The former federal Yugoslav republic of Macedonia's constitutional
name, "the Republic of Macedonia", is unacceptable to its neighbor to
the south Greece, whose northern province is also called Macedonia.
According to the NOVA website, the latest suggestion should
be used on a temporary bases, instead of another temporary solution,
"the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)" - under which the
country was admitted to the UN.
The website is citing unnamed
diplomatic sources involved in the negotiations to report that the
proposal came during the final round of negotiations in New York last
week. It was tabled by veteran U.S. diplomat and UN mediator Matthew
Nimetz.
This new name would be the name used during the
negotiations on Macedonia's accession to the EU, which would take at
least seven to eight years, the report said.
After that, a
referendum would be held in which the citizens of Macedonia would vote
on two issues: "on joining the EU, and on the name the Upper Republic of
Macedonia."
However, there have been disagreements about the
latest proposal as well. The suggestion, reportedly insisted on by
Skopje, would be acceptable to Greece "if the geographical determinant
were to be placed before the word 'Macedonia', and not in front of the
word 'Republic'."
Greece has reportedly given its consent to
Macedonia, with the addition of the word "upper", to join NATO and start
negotiations for EU accession.
In return, Macedonia would
enter an amendment into its Constitutionthat read: "From the day the
Republic of Macedonia joins the EU, the international name of the
country will be the Upper Republic of Macedonia and will be used in all
languages - except in official languages of the country."
According to the website, this amendment would also be approved or rejected in a referendum.
The two sides are reportedly expected to state their position on the
proposal in the coming days, and reach an agreement by mid-May.
The article further said that EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule
"supported Nimetz as he was determining the proposal", along with
consultations with the two sides, the United States and other
international factors.
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