Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos attends a press conference in Athens, Greece, June 12, 2018. Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos voiced doubt on Tuesday whether an agreement with Skopje to settle the long-standing name dispute can be reached, as talks between the two neighboring countries continued. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)
ATHENS, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos voiced doubt on Tuesday whether an agreement with Skopje to settle the long-standing name dispute can be reached, as talks between the two neighboring countries continued.
Following a telephone conversation on Monday between the two Premiers of Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), which was conducted in "good climate" according to both sides, a second telephone contact was scheduled for Tuesday morning, according to a Greek government announcement.
However, as government sources in Athens said that a historic deal was close, Kammenos, the leader of the junior partner in the two-party Greek ruling coalition, held a press briefing at his Independent Greeks (ANEL) party's headquarters, expressing skepticism over the final outcome.
The party had expressed objection to the use of the term Macedonia in any composite new name for the neighboring state from the start of the new round of UN- mediated negotiations a year ago.
"When the time comes and the name issue will be put to vote, we will remain loyal to our stance," Kammenos said on Tuesday, referring to the approval procedures of any deal in the Greek parliament.
"I believe we will not even reach this point and hold a vote in parliament, because the other side will not accept the agreement," he added.
The telephone contacts between Greek Premier Alexis Tsipras and his FYROM counterpart Zoran Zaev have been presented by both sides lately as one of the last crucial steps at this phase of negotiations to settle the name dispute.
Talks on ministerial level concluded in May and technical teams added the final details in the draft agreement the two prime ministers received.
Despite glitches and objections by opposition parties and protesting hardliners, both Athens and Skopje have insisted that there was positive momentum to reach a good agreement this June before the EU summit later this month which will consider FYROM's aspirations to join the EU.
The name row started in 1991 when FYROM declared independence from Yugoslavia and chose the name Macedonia, which is also the name of a northern Greek province.
Athens expressed concern from the beginning that the use of the same name by the neighboring state could lead to territorial claims.
In an interview with Greek television channel Kontra on Monday night Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias repeated that "the end of irredentism has been ensured".
The three names on the table were "New Macedonia", "North Macedonia" or "Upper Macedonia" he has said.
Regardless of ANEL's stance, as government sources said that a meeting between Tsipras and Zaev could be held on the borders as soon as this weekend to seal the agreement, Greek media commentators commented on Tuesday that any agreement reached between the two Premiers will not be final until it will be sealed by the two parliaments. Zaev has also called for a referendum in autumn.
The agreement was expected to be put to vote in the Greek parliament after the referendum at Skopje.
It was too early to tell on Tuesday whether opposition parties or independent MPs in the Greek parliament would support the agreement, local media such as "Ta Nea" daily commented.
Without ANEL, the Radical Left SYRIZA party of Tsipras holds 145 seats in the 300-member strong parliament.
