U.S. offers Macedonia name dispute idea

WASHINGTON, March 11 (UPI) -- The United States has proposed a solution to the name dispute between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has been in Washington since Tuesday discussing his country's battle with a record deficit and other regional issues. Part of the talks involved a U.S. proposal for the breakaway country to rename itself Northern Macedonia, Kathimerini reported Thursday.

Since declaring independence in 1991, Greece has challenged the country's name, saying Greece historically owns the name for a northern province.

Sources told the newspaper if leaders in both Athens and Skopje will agree, the U.S. would officially recognize the new name and encourage the United Nations to follow suit.

U.N. mediator Matthew Nimetz visited both capitals late last month and while he made no mention of the proposal, is said in diplomatic circles to favor the new name, the report said.

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/03/11/US-offers-Macedonia-name-dispute-idea/UPI-67221268322313/.