The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, on the sidelines of the 67th United Nations General Assembly in New York, had a bilateral meeting with the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Focal topic was the process for resolving the name issue, whereas President Ivanov stressed that the Republic of Macedonia in the talks always has an active and constructive position and demonstrates commitment to move the talks within the framework provided by the UN.

The Secretary General informed about the conversation he had with the Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, regarding the dispute between Macedonia and Greece over the name, and said that through other activities he will induce settlement of the dispute.

“During his visit to Macedonia, he promised that he would personally talk to the Prime Minister of Greece, Samaras, and at this meeting, he informed me about the content of his conversation and was agreed between them. The meeting which was quite comprehensive was an opportunity for sharing information on current events and issues related to the dispute we have with Greece. The Secretary General pledged again to talk with Mr. Nimetz, in order to intensify the debate that lasts for already 19 years. We as a country can not wait another 19 years, to remain engaged in an irrational dispute that is unique in the UN history”, President Ivanov said after the meeting with Ban Ki-moon.

At the meeting, Ivanov reminded that Macedonia’s constructiveness and goodwill is confirmed by the principal judicial body of the United Nations, the International Court of Justice. The Macedonian President pointed out that obligation of Greece in the future is to respect the ruling of the Court and the Interim Accord signed between the two parties.

President Ivanov informed the Secretary General that Macedonia is ready at any moment to talk with Greece, and expects the same from the other party, effectively, not only declaratively.

President Ivanov asked his interlocutor to urge the dispute to be kept exclusively within the framework provided by the United Nations resolutions relating to the dispute, the Interim Accord and with respect for the judgment of the International Court of Justice. The Macedonian President particularly condemned broadening of the dispute with issues that tackle free expression of national identity, language and culture.

"Our side emphasized that it is necessary for Greece to adhere to the framework in which these talks are led, i.e. to respect the resolutions of the United Nations, the Interim Accord and recent judgment of the International Court of Justice. Any deviation from the framework leads to endless talks that may never bring a solution if identity issues are tackled, for which no one in this world talks or if someone identity is denied", President Ivanov said.

The President added that issues of current history are issues for the historians, while Macedonia has the obligation, undertaken before the UN, to discuss the difference over the name with Greece.

At the meeting in New York, President Ivanov thanked the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for his visit in July this year, being the first official visit of UN Secretary-General to the Republic of Macedonia. President Ivanov stressed that Macedonia extremely respect the United Nations and actively contributes to meeting the UN goals. President Ivanov and Secretary General discussed the Macedonian contribution to the regional cooperation, integration into the European Union and NATO, and the Macedonian President informed about the preparations for the Macedonian Chairmanship of the South-East European Cooperation Process in 2013 and the Forum of the Dialogue among Civilizations.