UN chief, Greek FM discuss Cyprus, migration issues

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday met with visiting Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and they discussed such issues as Cyprus, migration and the Middle East.

During the meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York, Ban and Kotzias exchanged views on the "name" dispute between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here.

As part of his ongoing efforts, Ambassador Matthew Nimetz, the UN secretary-general's personal envoy for the talks between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, also met with the Greek foreign minister Friday to discuss the UN-brokered talks aimed at finding a mutually acceptable solution to the "name" issue, Dujarric said.

The use of the name Macedonia remains a controversial issue since Macedonia declared independence from former Yugoslavia in 1991. Greece opposed to the use of the name Macedonia by its northern neighbor, saying it implies territorial claims to Greece' s northern province of the same name.

As a result, Greece is blocking Macedonia's bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as well as the European Union, saying that Macedonia can be a member only if a solution to the name dispute is reached.

In November 2008, Macedonia brought Greece to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Athens of violating the 1995 agreement by thwarting Macedonia's efforts to join the NATO at a summit of the alliance in April 2008.

Three years later, ICJ ruled that Greece breached the 1995 Interim Agreement signed by two sides, under which Athens agreed not to block Macedonia's membership in international institutions under the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

But the court did not order Greece not to repeat its conduct in the future and the ruling did not address the actual name dispute as it has continued until now.

Ban and Greek foreign minister also discussed other issues, including progress in the talks for a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, ways to ensure protection of migrants and refugees making the journey across the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the situation in the Middle East.