Macedonia and Greece are getting ever more distant from reaching a compromise over the name issue, Dnevnik says today, and, according to Utrinski vesnik, the political public in the country follows very attentively how the situation, which becomes dramatic, develops.

Nova Makedonija and Vecer appeal for termination of talks, citing the Greek demands that are almost identical to those of 1992. Not only does Greece want the name to change for international use, but it also demands that the name for internal use, as well as the name of the nation and language change. Macedonia would be only allowed to use “Republic of Macedonia” inside the country in an informal communication. Greece also demands that Macedonia instructs all 126 countries that have recognized it with its constitutional name to accept the new name. The present use of “Macedonia” for commercial reasons would be unacceptable. The international code MK will also have to change. Greece insists that “Northern” precedes “Macedonia” in the new name.  

Prime Minister Gruevski refused to comment on the maximalist Greek demands. Diplomatic sources told Dnevnik that the Macedonian Government offered nothing new and did not express readiness to finish the whole process by 7 December. It is also possible for the reason for these Greek demands to be Macedonia’s announcement that it would cut off talks if it gets vetoed again in Brussels.