What’s in a Name? The Naming Dispute between Greece and Macedonia

Matthew Nimetz
Advisory Director for General Atlantic; Former Chairperson of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

US/UN Diplomat and legendary lawyer, Matt Nimetz unpacks one of the most intractable challenges of 21st century diplomacy: the longstanding naming dispute between Greece and Macedonia. Nimetz served as President Bill Clinton's Special Envoy to mediate the resolution of the Macedonian Issue and later as UN Special Representative for the naming dispute between Greece and the Republic of Macedonia.  Since Macedonia gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, Greece has blocked the nation's attempt to join NATO and the EU based on an objection to the nation's name. Nimetz shares his twenty year's experience working to negotiate the resolution between the two states and its implications for Macedonia's national identity, peace and the region's cultural heritage. He will also examine the ways in which lawyers straddle leadership in both the private and public sector.