Note to Correspondents: Talks between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

The Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Greece - the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia talks, Mr. Matthew Nimetz, wishes to correct the record relating to his meeting with the Greek diaspora group PanMacedonian Association USA on 21 September 2016. At that meeting, the Association referred to the 2004 recognition by the US Government of the Constitutional name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as a "mistake". Contrary to what has been reported, the Personal Envoy, Mr. Nimetz, does not take any position on the decision of the US or any other Government with respect to the form of recognition and therefore did not make any such statements. Mr. Nimetz did however remark to the group that the 2004 decision was, from the point of view of Athens, a mistake but from the point of view of Skopje it was a success.