Foreign relations of the Republic of Macedonia

Most Greeks still reject the agreement which Athens struck with Skopje to settle the decades-old name row with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), according to an opinion poll published on Sunday.

The survey, carried out by MARC polling firm and published in Proto Thema newspaper, revealed that 64.5 percent of Greeks did not want to see Parliament ratifying the deal.

Macedonia's parliament has ratified a deal with neighboring Greece signed last weekend to end a decades-long dispute over Macedonia's name.

The non-paper circulated by the Greek government on Tuesday explaining the deal agreed between the Prime Ministers of Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) is an interpretation of the agreement and does not correspond to its actual context, FYROM's government spokesman Mile Bosnjakovski said on Wednesday.

Greece said on May 15 that there was still "some distance" left to resolve a quarter-century name row with neighboring Macedonia, as the two countries' leaders prepare to meet this week.

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias arrived in Skopje on Thursday evening for a landmark visit as talks between the two sides appear to be edging toward a resolution on the longstanding "Macedonia" name dispute. 

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias is due to conduct a landmark visit to Skopje Thursday, amid signs that Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are edging closer to a solution on the latter's official name, though differences remain within the coalition in Athens over the issue.

The foreign ministers of Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) issued a joint statement on Tuesday in which they vowed to continue negotiations aimed at resolving the longstanding name dispute between the two countries, Ekathimerini writes.

The foreign ministers of Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) issued a joint statement on Tuesday in which they vowed to continue negotiations aimed at resolving the longstanding name dispute between the two countries.

FYROM (Macedonian) President Gjorge Ivanov has vetoed legislation extending the official use of the Albanian language to the entire country, saying it could endanger Macedonia's unity and sovereignty.

Ivanov said on January 17 that the proposed law would introduce a "very expensive redundancy" in state institutions and make state administration dysfunctional.

The church and the state of Athens have fought for the name dispute of Macedonia. The disagreements between spiritual and civilian power have come to an exchange of messages through the media. And the government accused the Holy Synod of interfering in its politics.