An ELIAMEP delegation, consisting of the Foundation’s Vice-President, Prof. Thanos Veremis, and Special Advisers Dr. Evangelos Kofos and Ambassador a.h. Alexandros Mallias, visited Skopje with the aim of explaining the point of view of the Greek side to the civil society of the neighboring country.

The delegation met with representatives of local institutes for international relations, as well as of the most authoritative media of the country, with whom they exchanged views on the bilateral relations between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and on the significance of finding a mutually acceptable solution. As local interlocutors pointed out, this is the first time in four years that a Greek delegation, even an unofficial one, visits the neighboring country to explain the point of view of the Greek side. The Greek participants underlined the need to find a solution that will cover all aspects of the subject, address all uses of the name and ensure that the problem will be solved definitely and not burden future generations.

As was to be expected, at first the discussion faced some difficulties, but in the end it was proven that it would be useful to repeat and intensify such types of meetings and exchanges, since they can contribute significantly to the development of a positive climate and trust-building between the two societies.

The meetings attracted great attention from the country’s most important media. On Sunday the Greek delegation participated in a TV discussion on the relations between the two countries, organized by the TV station A1 in Ohrid.

View references to the visit of ELIAMEP delegation in Skopje in the newspaper KATHIMERINI (in greek), ‘Eurasia Review’ (in english) and ‘Xronos.gr’ (in greek).