Poles stir FYROM name issue
The main opposition PASOK party heavily criticized the government’s foreign policy on Saturday after Poland – Greece’s fellow EU and NATO member – decided to refer to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) by its constitutional name in bilateral relations. PASOK’s secretary Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou said the ruling New Democracy government’s «non-existent» foreign policy is to blame for Poland’s move. The Polish government’s decision to refer to FYROM simply as «Republic of Macedonia» in dealings between the two states was made public on Saturday and was immediately played down by Athens. «It is well known that Poland has decided to follow the policy that many European countries such as France, Germany, Great Britain and Romania have followed for 10 years,» said foreign policy spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos. Last November, the US also recognized FYROM by its constitutional name. Koumoutsakos emphasized that finding a mutually acceptable solution was the only way to resolve the matter.
