Foreign Ministry spokesman Gregory Delavekouras noted the following in response to a question regarding recent statements from Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski on Greece’s supposed exercising of a “political genocide”:
“The speedy resolution of the issue of the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – through negotiations, as stipulated in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions – is Greece’s longstanding and firm desire. The achievement of a mutually acceptable solution will free up the dynamic of our bilateral relations and impart momentum to our neighbouring country’s European and Euroatlantic perspective.
An obvious prerequisite for the above is the cultivation of good neighbourly relations.
The offensive outbursts of Skopje officials – just a few days after the new Greek government took office – certainly do not help in the direction of creating a climate conducive to the achievement of a mutually acceptable solution. In fact, they undermine bilateral relations and stoke the systematic negative government propaganda that is aimed at turning public opinion in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia against Greece.”
June 27, 2012