Deft touch for a name settlement
The name dispute with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has become an open wound in Greece’s foreign policy. It’s also a domestic political problem. Politicians shy away from the issue fearing a public backlash. In the past, the governments in Athens and Skopje both wasted opportunities to reach an honest compromise. Politicians in both countries were wary of the political cost that a settlement would entail. Undoubtedly, provocative actions by the FYROM government, such as the decision to name Skopje airport after Alexander the Great, have done little to help. The situation calls for deft handling. Political life in Greece should not be caught up in the name issue. Athens should push for a fair and mutually acceptable solution. Greece should use the prospect of FYROM’s NATO membership without repeating mistakes of the past when it was driven by an all-or-nothing mentality.
