Since 1991 when Macedonia declared independence it has had problems with the recognition of its name. In its constitution the country is referred to as the Republic of Macedonia, but Greece vetoed that name and because of this controversy to this day the name “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” is temporarily used by the UN and EU. Some countries, including four permanent members of the United Nations Security Council - the United States, Britain, Russia and China - recognize Macedonia under its constitutional name. Bulgaria was the first country in the world that recognized Macedonia under its constitutional name and now that the dispute between Skopje and Athens is likely to find a solution, Bulgaria recalled it is not indifferent to the decision despite the fact it is not a party to the dispute.

In statements to Macedonian media in early August, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva made it clear that Sofia would not accept names as "Northern" or "Upper" Republic of Macedonia because such geographical definitions imply possible claims to the southwestern part of Bulgaria, called Pirin Macedonia. Macedonia has also rejected the notion of a geographical definition in its future name, and in this connection Greek media wrote that in the course of negotiations for the signing of a Neighborhood Treaty, Sofia and Skopje had forged a common front against Athens's demands for a name with a geographical definition.

However, the assumption that such a front existed is contradicted by at least two circumstances. First, Bulgaria's disagreement with geographic definitions such as "Northern" or "Upper" Republic of Macedonia was voiced as early as 2011 by then President Georgi Parvanov, who officially warned that, according to Sofia, "searching for a geographically-linked name could cause tensions in Bulgaria." Secondly, it cannot be denied that back then and also now, Bulgaria regards with respect the views of both Macedonian and Greek side in the name dispute. In 2011 President Parvanov also said that Sofia would support a compromise name for Macedonia and would find a way to express a constructive stance on it when agreement was reached. Now, expressing the same view of Sofia on the issue, Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva has made it clear that she had talk with Athens about the decisions that would be acceptable to Bulgaria. What these decisions actually are is unknown, as talks are extremely discreet. Media write that Athens found acceptable names such as "Vardar Macedonia" or "Republic of Skopje". It is well known that in the past negotiations, the second option was rejected by Macedonia.

The latest government changes in Skopje, however, have raised new expectations. The international mediator in the dispute Matthew Nimetz commented last month that he saw a new chance for solution to be reached and some diplomatic sources hinted on resuming talks in the autumn. After the change of power in Skopje, views emerged for a compromise that would allow Macedonia to become a NATO member under its temporary name of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. According to unofficial statements from the ruling in Bulgaria GERB party, this option was well -suited to finding a way out of the name saga. On the one hand, this is possible under an agreement between Skopje and Athens of 1995, which explicitly states that Macedonia could join international organizations with its provisional name. On the other hand, joining NATO under this name would also blunt the veto of Greece on Macedonia's EU membership. Such a development would also favor the final resolution of the name dispute because it implies a reduction of tension between the two countries involved in it. Whether that is true will become clear in the autumn, or perhaps at the end of August when a visit by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias to Skopje is expected to take place.

English: Al. Markov