As the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece prepare for UN-sponsored name settlement talks in New York, FYROM’s foreign minister, Nikola Dimitrov, declared that Greece does not have the exclusive privilege of using the name Macedonia, as it denotes a territory that extends beyond the borders of the Greek state.
Dimitrov told TV21 television that the name Macedonia should be used by both countries on equal terms.
‘’For Greece, it is important to make the distinction between the country of Macedonia and the Greek region of Macedonia. For us, it is important to eradicate any doubts regarding issues of identity. We have to find a dignified way of explaining and resolving this issue,’’ Dimitrov said.
‘’Macedonia does not belong exclusively to Greece or to Macedonia, because it covers a large geographic area, and therefore the real response to irredentism is the principle of non-exclusivity,’’ he added.
‘’Both sides have the right to use the term, the name, and variations thereof in a different framework. The principle of non-exclusivity, of not monopolising, means we do not have the right to exclusive use of the term Macedonia,’’ FYROM’s foreign minister said.
