Yesterday, international mediator Matthew Nimitz spoke with the leader of the Republic of Macedonia and today and tomorrow he will be in Athens to negotiate about the solution of the dispute between Athens and Skopje for the name of the Republic of Macedonia. In Skopje the diplomat met with the Prime Minister of the country Georgi Ivanov, with the secretary of state Nikola Gruevski and with the foreign minister Antonio Miloshoski. This morning in Athens he met with the foreign minister Dora Bakoyanni. A meeting with the president Karlos Papoulyas and Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis are not planned but the mediator will speak with representatives of the Greek opposition.

According to the Macedonian media Matthew Nimitz presented an updated version of the offers package, which he gave in October. In it the proposal about the name “Republic of Northern Macedonia” is still current but there are a few specification of the national identity and the language of the Macedonians. “I have been working on this issue since 1994. For those 15 years I have never doubted the national identity and the language of the Macedonian people,” said Matthew Nimitz for the Macedonian media. He himself has always stressed that the main problem is the name of the former Yugoslavian republic and the nationality and the language come second.

The Greek newspaper Ethnos claims that the name “Republic of Northern Macedonia” will be applied only in the communication with Greece and Skopje’s international communication will be done under the name “Republic of Macedonia.” Asked to comment on this subject Matthew Nimitz reminded that until they are negotiating on the subject, he will not reveal its content but he is optimistic that until the end of the calendar year, there will be a solution to the problem.