PM to discuss FYROM, Turkey on sidelines of EU summit

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was in Brussels on Friday for a European Union leaders summit on the sidelines of which he was expected to have talks with several leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the progress of negotiations on the Macedonia name issue and on a recent increase in Turkish aggression in the region. 

Earlier on Friday, Merkel briefed Tsipras on her talks with the prime minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Zoran Zaev in Berlin earlier this week. 

According to Greek government sources, Tsipras reiterated his administration's bid to secure a "stable, viable and mutually acceptable solution" to the name dispute. Merkel, for her part, said she would continue to encourage FYROM's leadership to reaching a solution. 

Later in the day, Merkel was to meet with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and Tsipras. The Greek premier was also to meet with the EU's top foreign policy official Federica Mogherini. 

According to sources, Tsipras is expected to express solidarity with Cyprus whose exclusive economic zone has suffered repeated transgressions by Turkey while also referring to a spike in Turkish violations in the Aegean. 

Tsipras is also expected to meet with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and France's Emmanuel Macron among others.