The Greek government and Prime Minister George Papandreou are committed to talks over the name row despite the country's crisis. UN is the only place of negotiations", says Member of European Parliament Maria Eleni Koppa from the ruling PASOK.

"The Greek government and Prime Minister George Papandreou are committed to the negotiations in order to reach a solution of the name problem. This was in the focus of Papandreou's last meeting with Mr.Gruevski", says Papandreou's close associate Koppa in an interview with Deutsche Welle.

She voices Athens' concern over developments in Macedonia and the "antiquisation of politics".

"Antiquisation of politics is not a good choice for improvement of relations with neighbors. The act of erecting the monument of a 'Warrior on a Horseback', who resembles Alexander the Great, is not the best means for establishment of a climate of trust between the two countries. We are quite concerned, but the commitment to go forward despite the problems is there, for the purpose of improving relations with neighbors, since we truly believe that the future of Balkan countries lies in the spirit of solidarity, trust and good neighborly relations", stresses the Greek MEP.

With regards to speculation that the name compromise is sought through secret negotiations, including her as an actor in such talks, Koppa is clear that UN is the only place of negotiations.

"I have never played a role in secret negotiations. And there have never been any such talks. The PMs' meetings aimed towards strengthening the UN-led negotiations, i.e. enhance the process that is slow and difficult to evolve. However, Greece believes that the only forum for the problem's settlement is the United Nations", says Koppa.

Pertaining to the crisis that has engulfed Greece and the EU, along with the risks for its Balkan neighbors, she states that one cannot determine the effect of the Greek crisis on the country's investments in the Balkans, adding that consequences are clear.

"This is normal. Besides the efforts by the Greek government to cope with the difficult situation, it continues to demonstrate solidarity with the European perspectives of regional countries. These states need to exchange opinions over the crisis, since the EU member-states, candidate-countries and aspirant countries are 'in the same bag'. There is a need for dialogue on the issue in regional context", underlines Greek MEP Maria Eleni Koppa.