“The name issue agreement will be reached when people least expect it,” said Richard Howitt, the new rapporteur on Macedonia at the European Parliament, at a press conference in Skopje, with which he completed his 2-day visit to Macedonia, during which he met top Macedonian officials. He also said Macedonia could be set a date for opening EU membership negotiations provided that the name issue is resolved by then, Utrinski vesnik reports.

“I believe that if a name issue compromise is reached, the European Council could set us a date for opening accession talks in December. I cannot negotiate the name issue. But I would encourage all parties to reach a compromise and an agreement over it,” Mr. Howitt, who presented himself as a friend to Macedonia, said.

Howitt was careful with the words, stressing all the time that he would not discuss the issue in public although he admitted that “private dialogue behind the stage is being conducted.”