Serbia’s Foreign Minister has come out publicly condeming his country’s past stance over the recognition of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) under its constitutional name, admitting that it was a ‘foolish’ move.
Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said Serbia acted “foolishly” and dealt Greece a “slap in the face” by recognising the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) under the name “Republic of Macedonia’’.
Dacic made the extraordinary statements during a media interview where he lamented Serbia giving in to FYROM’s demand that it be called “Republic of Macedonia” – which Greece objects to on the grounds that it implies territorial claims over the northern Greek region of Macedonia – as the neighbouring country then went on to recognise Kosovo after it claimed independence from Serbia in 2008.
“All of Europe and the world uses the name Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia but we went and gave our brothers the Greeks a slap in the face and now expect them not to recognise Kosovo,” Dacic said.
“We recognised ‘Macedonia,’ insulting the Greeks, and now they [Skopje] always vote in favour of Kosovo. I have to say that we acted foolishly, to use an undiplomatic term.”
Although Dacic admitted that Belgrade still intends to use “Republic of Macedonia” in bilateral relations with Skopje, Serbia will continue to only use FYROM in the international context.
