The Greek government is satisfied with a proposal to end a dispute with its northern neighbor over the name "Macedonia," UPI quoted a minister as saying in Athens. Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas said U.N. mediator Matthew Nimetz's suggestion of Northern Macedonia "fits with the framework for a settlement that we have set out," the Kathimerini newspaper reported Tuesday. For 19 years, Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have been at odds over the name Macedonia, which is also the name of a northern Greek province. Droutsas said Greece was willing to drop its opposition to European Union accession by its neighbor if Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski in Skopje would agree to add "Northern" to his country's name. "He will have to explain to his people why he is depriving them of their European prospects," Droutsas said. "Skopje must demonstrate its political will." -- SPA
