There is a certain name solution, says MEP Chatzimarkakis

Skopje, February 19 (MIA) - There is a proposal for name row settlement, but it is not up to me to announce it. It depends on Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski if he is going to unveil it. He has demonstrated willingness for a name solution, co-chairman of the EU - Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee Jorgo Chatzimarkakis told a press conference on Friday after a two-day meeting was wrapped up.

The co-chairman said that both premiers were aware of the pressure, which at the moment might be even bigger for Greek leader George Papandreou due to Greece's economic turmoil.

- Mediator Matthew Nimetz will arrive next week and I believe that certain name proposals will be put on the negotiation table. I don't know if they will be accepted, but I know one thing - if we face a situation where one party looses and the the other thinks it wins then we have an issue for decades ahead. It means that we have to create a situation of double victory i.e. a compromise; something to be given in order something to be obtained, stated Chatzimarkakis.

Being aware that such a compromise wasn't often present in the Balkans, because "here things are perceived in black and white, not in grey as it is perhaps the case in Europe", the MEP warned that if a name solution was not found, "Macedonia will not only come to a standstill, it will also cause Macedonians to become tired of Europe, which is dangerous."

MP Aleksandar Spasenovski, co-chairman of the Committee, said that one of the conclusions passed at the meeting underlined that Macedonia's EU accession should be solely based on meeting the Copenhagen criteria, adding that EU members should not take advantage of them for their own interest, which was against Union's enlargement policy.

- Our objective, amongst other things, was that apart from Macedonia's bilateral issue it is extremely important to note that the Copenhagen criteria laid down the foundation for Macedonia and that it shouldn't be allowed EU institutions to be questioned due to attempts bilateral interests to be fulfilled. In addition to the name issue there are a number of other issues that are vital for the citizens and for the quality of living, stressed Spasenovski.

A final document was adopted at the seventh meeting of the EU - Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee, which includes conclusions highlighting country's progress towards EU integration and puts forward certain recommendations.