Nimetz confirms his visit to Athens and Skopje next week


The UN mediator in name talks, Matthew Nimetz, issued a press release late Wednesday officially confirming his intention to visit Athens and Skopje next week.

"At the invitation of the Governments of the Hellenic Republic and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Matthew Nimetz, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, will travel to Athens and Skopje from 29 January to 1 February 2018. The visit is part of United Nations efforts to assist the sides in finding a mutually acceptable solution to the 'name' issue," the press release reads.

As MIA reported earlier today, Nimetz will arrive in Skopje on 31 January to meet with state leadership on the next day, namely on 1 February.

At the last round of negotiations on 17 January in New York, Nimetz presented a new set of ideas, expressing optimism that a solution is within reach to solve a 27-year-old dispute between Greece and Macedonia.

In the meantime, Macedonia's government has been analyzing Nimetz's proposals. Following today's meeting in Davos of the Prime Ministers of both countries, Zoran Zaev and Alexis Tsipras, a coordination meeting over the UN mediator's proposals, bringing together Macedonia's top officials and political party leaders, will take place on Saturday afternoon at the MPs' Club in Skopje.