Greece, Macedonia far apart on name

UNITED NATIONS, March 27 (UPI) -- There's little hope Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will resolve their dispute over the latter's name any time soon, a U.N. envoy reported.

Special envoy Matthew Nimetz told reporters Thursday the two sides remain wide apart despite intense efforts to broker a solution. Nimetz said he is ready to return to mediation efforts between Athens and Skopje "whenever the two sides were willing," a U.N. release said. Nimetz noted any solution will have to be a compromise.

Greece objects to the former Yugoslav republic's use of the name "Macedonia," arguing it could lead to claims over Greece's northern province of Macedonia. Greece has threatened to block Macedonia's entry into NATO over the issue.