VIENNA - Greek and Macedonian officials failed Monday to find a mutually acceptable name for Macedonia but agreed to more talks on the long-standing row next week in New York.
UN mediator Matthew Nimetz, who oversaw the talks, said he had invited both parties to hold further discussions in New York, adding that he was "optimistic" they would soon come to an agreement.
Macedonia has the same name as a northern Greek province and Greece fears that recognising it would imply that the Balkan country has a claim on the territory.
Athens has therefore threatened to block Macedonia's bid to join NATO at the alliance's next summit in April.
Nimetz said the parties had held useful discussions Monday and were considering several options.
The UN mediator has proposed five alternative names: Democratic Republic of Macedonia, Independent Republic of Macedonia, Constitutional Republic of Macedonia, New Republic of Macedonia, and Republic of Upper Macedonia.
Skopje has said it is willing to use either of the first two options when dealing with Greece but refuses to do so with international organisations or the 120 states which recognised it as the Republic of Macedonia.
Athens would prefer its northern neighbour to be called "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia."
NATO is expected to invite Albania, Croatia and Macedonia to join the alliance at its next summit in Bucharest on April 2-4.
ssw/ag
03/17/2008 20:06 GMT