FYROM PM, Greek mayor get together for dinner

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.

"We won't be talking politics," Boutaris told reporters before dinner, repeating this when the two emerged three hours later. "We have a special relationship with Mr. Zaev and I hope he returns soon."

Zaev wished all Greek citizens a happy new year and said it "was a great pleasure for me to have dinner with the mayor of Thessaloniki and his cabinet."

Boutaris said he extended the invitation last November, when visiting FYROM's capital of Skopje. Although billed as a private affair, the visit was announced by the...