ANGELOV: THE NAME ISSUE SHOULD NOT AFFECT THE RELATIONS BETWEEN MACEDONIA AND GREECE

In an interview with the Independent Balkan Agency (IBNA), Angelov stressed that confidence-building measures between the two countries by themselves are not related to the name issue, which needs to be addressed separately, without affecting basic aspects of relations between the two neighboring countries.

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- My Government strongly supports this approach, and in fact it is our view and suggestions from the first years of our independence in 1991. Let me remind you that one of the main objectives of the Interim Agreement signed in 1995, which is the cornerstone of our bilateral relations, was to provide a legal framework for the normalization of relations and cooperation, regardless of the existing difference over the name. Little is known in Greece that our two countries have not signed any bilateral agreement that would facilitate our economic cooperation.

The same applies to other areas such as security and defense, culture, education - Macedonian ambassador said.

Asked whether the negotiations will enter in a new phase after the early elections to be held in April, Angelov stressed that regardless of the election in the Republic of Macedonia or Greece, now or later, the Macedonian government is always ready to engage in discussions about the dispute name, both within the UN and in direct meetings with senior Greek officials.

- Regarding the latter, it is never too much to emphasize that we hope that we will have a meeting of the two prime ministers as soon as possible, as the first meeting between the two presidents that in the history of our diplomatic relations for twenty years have never been, and Despite our continuous initiatives - Angelov underlined that the need for such meetings does not come from bilateral matter, but also because of the current challenges faced by both countries, most crisis with refugees and migrants who stressed the need to have much better coordinated cooperation security and border management.

Commenting on the cooperation with the Government of Alexis Tsipras, Ambassador Angelov noted that the intensity of interaction and cooperation with the Greek Foreign Ministry is improving and getting stronger every day, and expresses the hope that it will happen with other ministries and government agencies, as well as with the country's President and Parliament.

- What also would be helpful it is a clear message to all stakeholders in Greek society that it is normal and desirable to work with your northern neighbor - Macedonian Ambassador to Greece, Darko Angelov said.