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  KARAMANLIS: DISPUTE CAN BE RESOLVED
WITH COMPLEX NAME FOR GENERAL USE


The solution to the Athens-Skopje dispute should be a complex name for bilateral relations, internationally, but also for domestic use, said Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis before MPs in a debate upon the submitted initiative for Cabinet confidence vote.
"Statements that an agreement has been reached are not sufficient, because a solution is required that would not allow dragging out of the agreement. Such a solution should bear the seal of the UN and the Security Council", said Karamanlis.
He once again threatened that without a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue, Skopje's road to NATO would be closed.
"Greece has made enormous concessions thus far, precious time has been lost, but Athens is not blame for this", stated the Greek PM.
Karamanlis will face the confidence vote on Friday, after the initiative of largest opposition party PASOK following Government's measures regarding pension reforms.
Greek media report that a new meeting between Athens and Skopje government officials could be held in the days preceding the NATO Summit in Bucharest. Greece could submit its own proposal for the problem's solution, in order to shrug off the responsibility on the possible veto to the NATO accession of its northern neighbor.

RUPEL: BALKANS IN THE CENTER OF
EU FMS INFORMAL MEETING


Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said Thursday in Ljubljana that the Western Balkans would be one of the main topics of discussion at the EU foreign ministers' informal meeting at Brdo pri Kranju on Friday, also attended by foreign ministers of Western Balkan countries.
The first day will focus on the Middle East peace process, preparations of EU-Russia summit, Tibet and inter-cultural dialogue, whereas the second day will be dedicated to the Balkans, based on the European Commission Report and the Thessaloniki Agenda.
"Slovenia wants to find an answer to the main issue, i.e. to help Serbia in its easier approximation to the EU and resolving of the Kosovo issue, and we are interested in the role of European mission EULEX", said Rupel.
He stressed that the conference would also tackle the issues of accelerating Macedonia's EU accession progress, the approximation of Montenegro and Bosnia&Herzegovina, whereas Croatia is on the right path after freezing the ecological fishing zone.
Moreover, Rupel added that Albania's EU path depended on the meeting of conditions within the Stabilization and Association Agreement.

"SKOMRAHI" FESTIVAL BEGINS
ON WORLD THEATRE DAY


"Skomrahi" festival, whereat more than 200 participants have applied, starts Thursday with performance "Metamorphosis", directed by Aleksandar Popovski at Skopje Dramski Theatre.
This international festival is dedicated to students from drama arts schools and academies, who at this 17th festival edition, will present their best works. Guests from Germany, Austria, Bosnia, Albania, Serbia, Romania, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Kosovo will present their performances, film projections and workshops.
On occasion of World Theatre Day - March 27, all theatre messages, which are traditionally read before the performances, are going to be delivered via promotional materials. "Skomrahi" ends on April 2.
 
     
     
     
 

 

 
     
     
     
 

 

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 NEWS

  MACEDONIA'S POSITION ON NIMETZ'S PROPOSAL TO BE DEFINED AFTER RETURN OF AMBASSADOR DIMITROV
FROM US


President Branko Crvenkovski, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki reviewed Wednesday the latest proposal of UN mediator Matthew Nimetz for settling the dispute with Greece over Macedonia's constitutional name.
Government Spokesman Ivica Bocevski stated that Macedonia's position would be defined upon the return of ambassador Nikola Dimitrov from New York.
Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski submitted late Wednesday the name proposal of mediator Matthew Nimetz to leaders of political parties in the Macedonian Parliament
"Yesterday's meeting marked the beginning of the assessment and analysis process to the proposed solution of mediator Matthew Nimetz. Taking into account the significance of the proposal, especially the significance of each detail within, we will wait for ambassador Nikola Dimitrov's return from New York, so that top officials are thoroughly briefed on the talks, as well as all details of the proposal", said Bocevski.
Nimetz has offered a draft-name with a geographic determinant at Tuesday's round of Macedonia-Greece name talks in the UN Headquarters in New York.
Without revealing the new proposal, Nimetz stated after the meeting that it was a name with a geographic dimension that could set a basis for fair solution.
Today Greek media say that "Republic of Macedonia (Skopje)" is probably the name that the mediator proposed at name talks with countries' negotiators Nikola Dimitrov and Ademantios Vassilakis at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Macedonian media correspondents from New York, quoting diplomatic sources, say that according to the new Nimetz's proposal, the would-be acceptable name, in English language transcription, is to be used for an international communication, while the constitutional for internal one. Countries that have already recognized the Republic of Macedonia under its constitutional name would be recommended to use the new name. Both Macedonia and Greece could use the adjective 'Macedonian'.