Skopje expects Athens' "draft document on name issue"

Skopje expects Athens' "draft document on name issue"

"According to announcements, Kotzias will arrive at the Skopje airport in the third or fourth week of March, in order to make efforts to bring positions closer, while the negotiating process will resume under Nimetz's mediation," Zaev said, according to MIA agency.

The report said that Zaev "expects Kotzias to present the Greek draft-document for the name issue settlement during the Skopje visit," adding he was "still an optimist, expecting a solution to the problem, while preserving dignity and identity of both sides."

Meanwhile, several thousand people demonstrated in Skopje against changing the name of (the Republic of) Macedonia, and asking the government to abandon the negotiations with Greece.

The protesters, who shouted, "We are Macedonians," accused the government and the largest opposition party, VMRO-DPMNE, of "betraying the national interest."

At the same time, members of the country's diaspora held protests in Europe, the US, and Australia, torching Greek flags and Zaev's photographs.