Nikola Dimitrov

A minister in North Macedonia's technical government, formed to preside over the April elections, has defended her right to challenge the country's landmark agreement with Greece over its name, saying she was only correcting a historic injustice.

On the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias is expected to reassure his North Macedonia counterpart Nikola Dimitrov of Greece's commitment to help reboot the Balkan country's stalled bid to join the European Union. 

Germany's foreign minister has offered backing for North Macedonia's efforts to start membership talks with the European Union, after a minority of EU members blocked the process.
Heiko Maas said Wednesday that the EU "has to open the doors" to the Balkan country and said the people of North Macedonia should not be disappointed with the setback.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is to meet with North Macedonia's Zoran Zaev on Thursday on the sidelines of the Thessaloniki Summit 2019, a business event organized by the Federation of Industries of Greece.

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on Friday reassured his North Macedonia counterpart Nikola Dimitrov of Greece's support for the Balkan country's prospects for joining the European Union while also underlining the need for the Prespes name deal to be honored to the letter. 

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias is traveling to Geneva to attend a Strategic Dialogue of Western Balkans leaders, an initiative organized by the World Economic Forum.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the aim of the talks will be to discuss regional cooperation and ways to enhance stability and economic progress in the region.

I came to reaffirm the strong US support for Northern Macedonia and its European path and perspective, "said Matthew Palmer, US Special Representative for the Western Balkans, during his visit to Skopje.

Northern Macedonia expects to receive a start date for talks with the European Union in October, Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov said.

For Reuters, he explained that this step is important so as not to discourage Balkan governments wishing to reform or young people who are otherwise seeking a "European way of life" elsewhere.

North Macedonia expects to get a date for the start of EU accession talks in October and is worried the Balkans region would be discouraged about reform if discussions do not begin, its foreign minister said on Tuesday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva discussed the European perspective of the Republic of Northern Macedonia with her colleague Nikola Dimitrov. The two spoke in Helsinki during an informal meeting of the first EU diplomats with their counterparts from the six countries of the Western Balkans.