Zoran

Macedonia and Greece have a real chance to solve a festering quarter-century-old name dispute by July, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has said.

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) is spending the New Year's holiday in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki as the guest of the city's mayor.

Zaev and Mayor Yiannis Boutaris dined Saturday night in one of the city's top restaurants, serenaded by a Macedonian band playing Balkan folk songs.

FYROM (Macedonian) Prime Minister Zoran Zaev will welcome in the new year in Thessaloniki with the mayor of Greece's second largest city.

The government in Skopje confirmed this on Wednesday, Beta reported.

Government spokesperson Mile Bosnjakovski said Zaev was invited to Thessaloniki by Mayor Yiannis Boutaris, and specified that the trip will be private.

Macedonian government has approved the Friendship and Neighborhood Treaty between Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia, which was signed by Prime Ministers Boyko Borisov and Zoran Zaev on 1 August this year,  BGNES reported.

PRISTINA - Pristina should count on Macedonia's support in all processes, Macedonian PM Zoran Zaev said Tuesday when asked whether Skopje would support Kosovo's UNESCO membership.

Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin says FYROM (Macedonia) Prime Minister Zoran Zaev "has not kept his word."

Vulin's reaction came after Zaev - asked whether his country would support Pristina's UNESCO bid, said Pristina should "count on Macedonia's support in all processes."

Greece's name dispute with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) has come back to the forefront, with a new series of talks under way in Brussels, headed by United Nations Special Representative Matthew Nimetz.

United Nations special mediator Matthew Nimetz on Monday restarted talks between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) over the latter's name, following a protracted stalemate.

BELGRADE - A preliminary agreement has been reached to hold a joint session of the Serbian and Macedonian governments in late February or early March next year, Serbian PM Ana Brnabic said after a meeting with Macedonian PM Zoran Zaev in Belgrade on Tuesday.

BELGRADE - Macedonian PM Zoran Zaev said in Belgrade Tuesday he believed a solution would be found in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, adding that this was in the interest of Serbia and the entire region.

Macedonia respects the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, said Zaev.