Skopje

UN envoy says his mandate concerns only name dispute

SKOPJE -- UN secretary-general's envoy Matthew Nimetz has said that he has no mandate to negotiate about "the identity of the Macedonian people."

Serbians still in critical condition after deadly crash

SKOPJE -- Two Serbian citizens are in the hospital in Macedonia in a critical condition after a traffic accident late on Monday that killed an 8-month-old baby.

On arrival in Skopje on Monday, UN mediator Matthew Nimetz said he was bringing no new proposal on his two-day visit, but rather old ideas that were worth considering further.

“I don’t have a new proposal but I have some things in my head," Nimetz told reporters.

OSCE explores ways to prevent extremism in the Balkans

Experts discuss approaches to counter radicalisation of potential terrorists.

The OSCE and the Balkan countries are working to address political and socio-economic factors that lead to radicalisation and recruitment of terrorists, officials said.

Pressure from within Europe for a solution to the dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) over the latter’s name is growing, with Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini adding her voice to those calling for a swift resolution.

After a year-long trial in a case codenamed “Phalanx”, the former head of Macedonia’s Cultural Heritage Protection Office has been found guilty of aiding a criminal ring to excavate and sell off valuable archaeological artifacts.

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) does not expect a visit next week by United Nations mediator Matthew Nimetz to bring any new proposals for a solution to the country’s name dispute with Greece, Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki said on Thursday.

Nimetz will be in Skopje on July 28 and 29 before spending the next two days in Athens.

“This time I expect substantial progress at the meetings with the leaders in Skopje and Athens,” UN mediator Nimetz was quoted as saying in an interview for “Voice of the People,” a Macedonian TV magazine.

Nimetz will visit Skopje on Monday and Tuesday to meet Macedonian leaders, after which he will travel to Athens, a UN press release explained.

United Nations mediator Matthew Nimetz will visit Skopje and Athens for talks next week, it was announced on Wednesday.

Nimetz will be in Skopje on July 28 and 29 before spending the next two days in Athens.

According to the UN, Nimetz is traveling to Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) with the aim of rekindling discussions on the name dispute.

BELGRADE – Serbia’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic met with Macedonian Ambassador to Serbia Vera Jovanovska-Tipko on Tuesday to discuss the European integration process, cross-border cooperation and Serbia’s and Macedonia’s infrastructure projects.