SYRIZA Critical of Mickoski’s “New Violation” of Prespa Agreement

In their coverage of the presentation of the new cabinet’s programme by PM-designate Hristijan Mickoski, on Saturday, Greek media focused on the fact that he used the name ‘Macedonia’ three times. Some portals said that was a “new provocation”.

SYRIZA, too, criticised the use of that name, saying it condemned Mickoski’s “new violation of the Prespa Agreement”. The party added that it wanted to remind Mickoski’s party, VMRO-DPMNE, that continued violations of the Agreement resulted in foreseen sanctions, adding that full alignment with the deal was a required condition for EU membership.

Also, SYRIZA called on Greece’s authorities to, as it stressed, immediately internationalise the matter in order for the northern neighbour’s new leadership to face its responsibilities before the international community from the moment it continued to violate the Agreement.

“The fact that new Democracy and VMRO[-DPMNE], the two sister-parties within the EPP, are trying, in order to draw a nationalist crowd, to torpedo the Agreement, which is a turnaround for all peoples in the Balkans, is really regrettable,” SYRIZA noted, levelling criticism also at the cabinet led-by New Democracy.

Also, in an interview with Kathimerini, mediator Matthew Nimetz said the new government of North Macedonia should get out of the difficult position it has put itself in. As he stressed, using the constitutional name in writing but not verbally will cause continued problems and confusion.