06 December, 2011
 Greece said yesterday that it will continue to negotiate in good faith with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) for a mutually acceptable solution concerning the name dispute, after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced its ruling in a case brought against Greece by FYROM, in which it accused Greece of violating the terms of the 1995 Interim Accord by blocking the country’s admission to NATO in 2008. In a 15-1 ruling the court found that Greece had violated its obligation under the Interim Accord but did not order it to refrain from similar moves against FYROM in the future.
"Greece is steadily aiming at the consolidation of good neighbourly relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and will continue to work to this end," Prime Minister Lucas Papademos said in a statement. He added that "Greece remains steadfast regarding these positions also after the Judgment of the International Court of Justice. Our country is ready to continue the negotiations in order to solve the name issue erga omnes, under the auspices of the United Nations."  The statement stresses that the judgment "does not address the issue of the difference over the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, confirming that this difference should be resolved within the framework defined by the resolutions of the Security Council and through negotiations under the auspices of the UN."
UN special envoy for the FYROM name issue Matthew Nimetz underlined that the ruling should be "studied carefully," noting that in recent days he has contacted the two governments and urged them to see this fact as an opportunity for creative thinking as regards their mutual relation and to consider a new initiative to reach a definitive solution to the name issue.
Moreover, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in a written statement underlined that he has taken under consideration the ruling issued by ICJ as regards the bilateral issue between Greece and FYROM. "We have agreed that an invitation will be extended to FYROM as soon as a mutually acceptable solution is reached on the name issue," Rasmussen stated, underlining that the NATO decision has been reaffirmed by subsequent summit meetings and ministerial meetings held by the alliance. Source: GREEK NEWS AGENDA issued by the Secretariat Genera
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