The dialogue on a technical level between representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Greece and Macedonia is going to resume in Skopje in autumn. Macedonia expects the meeting to produce genuine progress as regards a number of issues. It should also be a sign that Athens has completely abandoned the politics of Karamanlis, former Greek prime minister, who put on hold all bilateral contacts when the United State of America recognized Macedonia under its constitutional name in November of 2004.

Although Athens and Skopje had a number of meetings on a high bilateral level (between prime ministers and ministers of foreign affairs), there was almost no communication and political meetings between the ministries of foreign affairs or any other government bodies. As a result of the stalemate, no agreements were being signed between the two countries. The scarce communication drew upon very old agreements from the time of former SFRY or the principles of the Interim Accord, which produced a few memorandums or protocols for cooperation.

“The issues raised at the meeting held earlier this month with our counterparts from Athens included certain very important issues related to our European integration and the promotion of bilateral relations,” a source from the Macedonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says.