European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, UN mediator for the Macedonian name dispute Matthew Nimetz and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have this week all both reubuked the conduct of Nikola Gruevski, prime minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). 

Gruevski had during the week sent open letters to the Greek PM Karamanlis and European Commission President Barroso which claimed that the situations of a "Macedonian minority" in which he alleges exists within Greek borders should be adressed along with the naming dispute in negotiations between Greece and the former Yugoslav republic.

European Commission President Barroso made it clear he did not consider what the Greek media has termed "letter diplomacy" relating to issues other than the name dispute to be helpful for the prospects of finding a dispute to the long-standing name dispute.

In his short and sharp response to Gruevski's letter he said “has no general competence to deal with issues such as identities of minorities" and reminded Mr. Gruevski that, "Maintaining good-neighborly relations remains essential for the progress of your country toward the European Union".

In an interview with Greek television network NET, UN Special Representative and mediator for the naming dispute between FYROM and Greece, Matthew Nimetz, said negotiations between the two countries should be confined to the name issue.

Angela Merkel the German chancellor has also criticised Gruevski's conduct saying negotiations should be confined to the name issue while the German foreign minister said "It is particularly doubtful that the letter contributes to a climate of consensus in the naming issue".

(SOURCES: Deutsche Welle, NET, Kathimerini)

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