Democratic Union MP Pavle Trajanov’s proposal for resolution of the name issue with Greece in stages is, in fact, a proposal of the Government that has recently been provided to UN mediator Matthew Nimetz, Vreme has learned from sources close to the Government. Trajanov confirmed he had sent the proposal to Nimetz and expects to receive an answer soon. His proposal has been previously well received by EU officials Olli Rehn and Jose Manuel Barroso, who assessed it as interesting and constructive. Trajanov presented his proposal also to the Greek officials in Skopje and says their reactions were positive, too.

According to Vreme’s source, what is uncertain is whether Greece accepts the proposal. As Vreme has learned, the Government refuses to comment on and back Trajanov’s proposal publicly allegedly so as not to harm the negotiating process. The Government is said to be using Trajanov to probe the public mood before voicing a position.

Trajanov says that at this moment there is an ideal chance for Macedonia to take the initiative and put forward a concrete proposal for resolution of the issue.

“This is the first time that Macedonia sent a proposal for resolution of the dispute to mediator Nimetz. The Macedonian Government has so far only listened to and refused Greece’s proposals. I expect the mediator to send a reply over the next two weeks with his opinion on the proposal, to consider and modify it so that it is acceptable to both parties. Only then can Nimetz present it to Greece and Macedonia,” Trajanov explains.