The debate over renaming FYROM continues

Stavros Lygeros ponders the complex issue of naming the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). "That country's Slav-Macedonian leaders were never willing to accept anything other than plain 'Macedonia.' ... Trapped in its untenable position of 'neither 'Macedonia' nor a derivative thereof,'... Athens was satisfied with the temporary solution provided by 'FYROM,' which became a sort of fig leaf. ...If it [Athens] had allowed FYROM to join NATO under that name, it would have committed a national crime by default and relinquished its only weapon. ... Greece will need to have its own proposal ready for a composite name that refers to the geographical factor, such as 'Upper Macedonia'. This would provide a framework for UN mediator Matthew Nimetz, who seems to be heading down the slippery slope of a dual-name solution."

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