Μinutes of FYROM leaders' deliberations seen by Kathimerini

The minutes seen by Kathimerini of meetings between the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's political party leaders about the negotiations with Greece before the name deal was signed in the Prespes lake district in June, indicate that they thought a deal would be easier to sign with a left-wing government in power in Greece.

The two councils of FYROM leaders on January 27 and May 19 in Skopje were both chaired by President Gjorge Ivanov. The first meeting took place less than two weeks before negotiations began in earnest under the aegis of United Nations special envoy Matthew Nimetz while the second was convened while the name Macedonia of Ilinden was being floated.

According to the minutes of the meetings - small excerpts of which were published on May 19 by German paper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung - most of the elements of the Prespes agreement had already...