Ban presses to end dispute between Greece-Republic of Macedonia
Ban met on Thursday in New York with Antonio Milososki, the Foreign Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, with the talks focusing on the status of negotiations between Athens and Skopje on the name issue. The UN Secretary-General said he had been encouraged by the direct dialogue established by the prime ministers of the two countries as well as the importance given to the efforts of Matthew Nimetz, his Personal Envoy on the issue. "It was time to move towards decisions that will resolve the matter expeditiously and in a mutually acceptable manner," Ban said, according to a note of the meeting released by his spokesperson. The Interim Accord of Sep 13, 1995, which was brokered by the United Nations, details the differences between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece on the name issue. It also obliges the two countries to continue negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General to try to reach agreement. QUELLE