EU Commission chief urges Macedonia to resolve name dispute
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has urged Macedonia to resolve a long-standing naming dispute with neighboring Greece so the country can open membership talks with the European Union.
Juncker arrived in Macedonia on Sunday to kick off a Western Balkans tour that also will include stops in Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Montenegro.
He met in the capital, Skopje, with Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Junker praised Macedonia for the "pace of reforms" needed to join the EU, but urged the government to settle the 25-year dispute over the Macedonia name.
Greece argues that Macedonia's use of it when it gained independence in 1991 implies territorial claims to its Macedonia province
Juncker said: "Do your job with Greece...I do not intend to lecture those involved."