Greece, Macedonia race to end row:

Foreign Ministers of Greece and Macedonia met in the presence of a UN envoy on Saturday, in an attempt to bridge their differences in a decadesold dispute over the name of the former Yugoslav Republic before an EU summit next week.

The row began in earnest in 1991, when Macedonia broke away peacefully from former Yugoslavia, declaring its independence under the name Republic of Macedonia.

Greece, which has its own region called Macedonia, has asked its neighbour to change its name, as well as what it says are “irredentist” references in Skopje’s national constitution, which Greece says must be taken out.

The dispute has blocked Macedonia’s aspirations to join the European union and the NATO military alliance.

But the two countries decided last year to renew their efforts and try to reach a settlement long before the summer. (RTRS)