Could the potential Provisional Government in Macedonia help stir the ongoing name dispute in a positive regarding ties with Greece? The newspaper “Ethnos” reports that the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the Provisional Government could make a turn of events in the negotiations over the name, and an easier way to reach a formula that would be acceptable to both parties.
However, despite the optimism that holds sway to the possibility that Athens and Skopje will make progress with the Provisional Government in Macedonia, there are also diplomatic assessments that predict such developments could move both sides closer to a solution, or have the opposite effect.
There are growing fears, according to the newspaper “Ethnos” that this situation could lead to a “nationalist crescendo” of Nikola Gruevski that could block the deal and give him greater strength and support of the agreed elections in April next year.
The Greek side, reports the newspaper , are under a diplomatic baton held by Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias. He is planning intensive diplomatic activity by implementing confidence-building measures signed between both sides, as an academic cooperation, enhanced border-crossing cooperation and the activation of the railway from Bitola – Florina.
This reinforced Greek diplomatic activity is considered to be the result of two elements. The first, pressure from the American side and the messages from the Deputy Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland, to Skopje and to Athens, and that time is running out and it is necessary for NATO’s next summit in July to find a solution for his matter.
The second reason that Athens wants to be more active and involved over Macedonia is Mr Kotzias’s general decision. Greece should not allow its domestic economic crisis to influence or to be overshadowed by the Turkish influence in the Balkans.
