Tensions between Skopje and Athens six years after the Prespa Agreement

2024-06-17 20:16:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Tensions between Skopje and Athens six years after the Prespa Agreement

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The new leaders of the institutions in Skopje are determined not to use the constitutional name of the state - North Macedonia - either inside or outside the country, despite the many reactions from Greece, which demands compliance with the agreement reached on the name change from Macedonia , in North Macedonia.

The six-year anniversary of the Prespa Agreement, on June 17, 2018, finds the two countries tense, especially after May 12, when the new Macedonian president, Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, did not use the country's state name during the swearing-in ceremony in the Parliament .

Even in a speech held on Sunday at the Summit for Global Peace, in Switzerland, the name North Macedonia was referred to as "my country", while in all announcements published by her cabinet, Davkovka is referred to as "the president of the state ".

The candidate for prime minister, Hristijan Mickoski, continues to use the old name of the state, "Republic of Macedonia", in his speeches.

"It is my human right to call my country the way I want and feel," Mickoski said, as he commented on the reactions of the Greek side, which warned of consequences if "the basic principles of the Prespa Agreement continue to be violated" ".

North Macedonia has been a candidate country for EU membership since December 17, 2005, but it could not start membership talks due to Greece's veto, a country that insisted on changing the state's name, due to a region that has it in the north, named "Macedonia".

After 13 years of blockades, the two countries reached an agreement in Prespa, which provided for the change of name from "Republic of Macedonia" to "Republic of North Macedonia".

Greece then lifted its veto and two years later, Skopje joined NATO and took steps towards the EU.

However, after the last elections held by North Macedonia, which resulted in new names in power, Greece has warned that it will be able to reverse the veto.

Greek officials have said that they are in favor of strengthening relations between the two countries, but that something like this can only be achieved after respecting the obligations arising from the Prespa Agreement.

The signing of the Prespa Agreement

The deputy foreign minister of Greece, Aleksandra Papadopoulou, told the Macedonian media that "the president and the prime minister are not ordinary citizens, and that for them the use of the constitutional name is not a personal matter".

"We are neighbors, we are allies in NATO and I believe that we will also be partners in the European Union, so we want this neighborhood to continue and strengthen. Greece wants to continue close cooperation with your country. But there is a basis for this cooperation and that is the Prespa Agreement. Respecting all international law obligations, including the Prespa Agreement, is the basis for cooperation. I want to believe and look forward to the continuation of cooperation with the new Government. The message is very clear, international agreements must be respected. The name of the state is North Macedonia. This name should be used both inside and outside the country," said Papadopulo.

The representative for the formation of the new Government, Hristijan Mickoski, has said that the Government he will lead will respect the Prespa Agreement, but believes that the use of the state's name "is the right of everyone to use it as they feel".

In addition, Mickoski said that the new Government will draw up a document with data on the obligations that the two states have implemented, since, according to him, Athens also has obligations that it must fulfill.

The current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bujar Osmani, has said that "the Greek side has fulfilled its main obligation, the unlocking of the country's membership in NATO".

The clashes between Skopje and Athens have caught the attention of the United States and the European Union, who have called on North Macedonia in particular to respect the provisions of the Prespa Agreement, as a document that guarantees peace, stability and European perspective for its citizens.

On the occasion of the sixth anniversary of the Prespa Agreement, its two signatories, former prime ministers Zoran Zaev and Alexis Tsipras, have organized a conference for peace and sustainable development in Athens.

During the conference, an award will also be given to the negotiator, the American diplomat, Matthew Nimetz./REL