BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA - M. Aroni) European Commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn on Wednesday strongly urged the government in Skopje to settle the name dispute with Greece, after announcing that he was ready to recommend that the bloc begin accession negotiations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

   Noting that the Commission considered that FYROM had made "convincing" progress in key reforms and sufficiently fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria for the start of entry talks, he pointed out that the name dispute was now the final obstacle that remained to be overcome, as a matter of urgency.

   "I trust that the Government in Skopje will take this as a very strong encouragement to finally settle the name issue," Rehn said in statements after presenting the Commission's annual enlargement report.

   He stressed that the report underlines the need to maintain good neighbourly relations, including a negotiated and mutually acceptable solution to the name issue, under the auspices of the UN.

   "Now it is indeed more essential and urgent than ever, for the sake of the country's EU future," the Commissioner added.