All media comment that the date for starting accession talks with the European Union depends on whether the name issue between Macedonia and Greece is resolved. Following the euphoria of the good news from Brussels, newspapers say that the Government is forming teams to start the talks and intensifies contacts with the business community, which is expected to provide suggestions about the chapters pertaining to the economy.

While commentaries from Greece mentioning the “Greek national red line”, according to which “FYROM is not going to be set a date for starting EU accession talks unless the name issue is resolved”,  are being given much attention in Macedonian media, Macedonian government officials reiterate that they remain fully committed to starting membership negotiations.

Nova Makedonija comments that this clearly shows that Macedonia, too, drew its red line: this is a bilateral dispute and a new name only for use in international organizations could be a solution. The paper concludes that mediator Matthew Nimetz will evidently stay on the pay-roll of the United Nations for a long time to come. Macedonia, however, hopes that Europe will truly stay faithful to its principles and view this problems as yet another exotic, bilateral Balkan dispute.