Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

With talks between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to resolve the dispute over the latter's name intensifying, FYROM Prime Minister Zoran Zaev insisted on Thursday that even though he is "optimistic" there is still enough time for a deal before the European Council on June 28-29.

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) has said that the text of an agreement with Greece on the decades-old name dispute has not been finalized yet, with the Foreign Ministry of the neighboring country noting that the quality of the solution is more important than the time it might take to achieve it. 

Under the brassy stare of an equestrian Alexander the Great statue, 3,000 people gathered near the ancient Greek ruler's birthplace Wednesday to demand that Greece takes a tough stance with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) in talks over the neighboring country's name.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said on Sunday it is up to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to make the next move in the ongoing negotiations aiming to resolve the decades-old name row.

The prospects for a breakthrough in talks between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on the latter's name are unclear as although FYROM's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev expressed optimism over the weekend, technical-level discussions between the two sides have been ridden with obstacles. 

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on Saturday expressed optimism for a potential deal on the long-standing name dispute between Athens and Skopje amid technical-level discussions.

Talks between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on the latter's official name, which had appeared to be in the final stretch, seemed to have run into problems on Friday, with a senior Greek government official saying that a deal was not likely to be reached in the coming days. 

Talks between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on the latter's official name, which had appeared to be in the final stretch, seemed to have run into problems on Friday, with a senior Greek government official saying that a deal was not likely to be reached in the coming days. 

The US Ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey Pyatt, reiterated on Friday his country's ardent support for the ongoing negotiations between Athens and Skopje to resolve the decades-old dispute on the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

The likelihood of a deal between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on the latter's name moved further away as the neighboring country is "not ready" to respond to the proposals discussed between the foreign ministers of the two countries in Brussels, a Greek government official said on Friday.