Skopje hints at more delays in name deal

With talks between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to resolve the dispute over the latter's name intensifying, FYROM Prime Minister Zoran Zaev insisted on Thursday that even though he is "optimistic" there is still enough time for a deal before the European Council on June 28-29.

"Although it is not easy, it is a very sensitive issue," he said, adding that it is "very important to find a sustainable and permanent solution that would be 100 percent safe for future generations."

Zaev reportedly said that he would like to speak with his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras on the phone on Friday, noting however that there is still time before the European Council.

"Maybe we are going to call Athens and it might happen very soon. I won't comment on anything else since everything was said in the Foreign Ministry statement," he was quoted as saying.

...