FYROM news: US to Boost F.Y.R.O.M's Euro-Atlantic Efforts

FYROM news 

news from FYROM

US Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Philip Reeker, is due in FYROM next week on a mission to boost FYROM's stalled Euro-Atlantic progress.

Reeker, a former ambassador to FYROM, is expected to meet the FYROM's President, Gjorge Ivanov, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and leaders of the bigger political parties.

The country's EU and NATO integration, currently "blocked" (sic) by the long-standing "name" dispute with neighboring Greece, is expected to be at the top of his agenda during his stay, a source from the government told Balkan Insight.

There are no further details about Reeker's visit and about what messages he brings to the authorities in Skopje.

The last time Reeker visited FYROM was in January, only one month after the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that Greece had " breached" an interim deal, brokered by the UN in 1995, when it blocked FYROM’s attempt to join NATO in 2008.

Reeker then conveyed a message that the ruling alone won't bring about FYROM's NATO membership and should be taken only as encouragement to speed up the UN-led "name" talks between the two countries.

Since then, there has been no serious progress in the name talks mediated by the US diplomat, Matthew Nimetz.

Athens and Skopje are locked in a two-decade long dispute over FYROM's name. Citing the unresolved issue, Greece has "blocked" (sic) FYROM’s progress towards both EU and NATO membership.

Greece insists that use of the term "Macedonia" by its neighbour implies a territorial claim to its own northern province of the same name.

Reeker is visiting FYROM as part of a regional tour.

Sinisa Jakov-Marusic Balkan Insight (17/8/12)

*(After the necessary corrections with the name "FYROM".  

GREECE recognised this country with the name "FYROM")

 

Philip Reeker former ambassador to FYROM