Kotzias begins pivotal visit to Skopje as name talks progress

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias arrived in Skopje on Thursday evening for a landmark visit as talks between the two sides appear to be edging toward a resolution on the longstanding "Macedonia" name dispute. 

Kotzias, who touched down at Skopje International Airport at around 7 p.m. - on what was the first direct flight to Skopje in 12 years - was scheduled to have dinner with his counterpart Nikola Dimitrov ahead of talks today with him and other officials of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. 

Arrangements were made for Kotzias's trip after Skopje renamed its international airport, removing the name of the Greek warrior king Alexander the Great. 

Apart from symbolic gestures made by both sides, there has been progress on the crux of the issue, with Greek and FYROM officials said to be close on resolving the matter of the name and addressing concerns about...