Major German media outlets are reporting significant progress in FYROM naming talks, after negotiations between PM Alexis Tsipras and his FYROM counterpart, Zoran Zaev, on May 16-17 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
“Tsipras and Zaev are coming closer in the name dispute…They have found a solution for the name of the state of Macedonia”, Die Zeit reported. It cited Zaev’s statement about a version that can be accepted by both sides and that both sides must conduct domestic consultations to seal that aspect of a prospective deal.
The report noted that Angela Merkel spoke of progress in the negotiations. “Both sides made clear that the target has not yet been reached. It would be exceptionally desirable if the name issue could be resolved as, especially for Macedonia, a lot depends on that,” the German Chancellor was quoted as saying.
The report noted that both governments are left-leaning.
Die Zeit online reported that a key aim of Athens in the talks is to find a solution that will bar future territorial claims by FYROM, and that there has been notable progress in the talks so far.
