Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos clarified that a first response to FYROM's request for EU accession should be given by the EU in the first half of 2005, adding that this is a time framework and developments are being considered on the way.

The Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman also conveyed the EU position, which recognizes only the name Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia based on the statements made by the Dutch Prime Minister and EU President in his meeting with Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and relevant statements by the German Chancellor.

On the next moves of the government, the Foreign Ministry spokesman stated that after the briefing of the President of the Hellenic Republic and the political parties by the Foreign Minister, the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense will convene next Wednesday to discuss the issue and the Greek government will make all necessary demarches to the United Nations.

Mr. Koumoutsakos also stated that after the Interim Agreement between Greece and FYROM in 1995 the two countries held a dialogue in New York, which in the past three years became stagnant not because of Greece's responsibility. The Greek government undertook an initiative in the past 6 months for the resumption of the dialogue. This initiative led to assurances that were given to Foreign Minister Moliviatis by the FYROM political and state leadership that the dialogue will resume.

Source: MPA News

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