In his congratulatory message to Greeks in the diaspora on the occasion of the New Year’s and Christmas holidays, Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos reiterated his stand on the relations with the northern neighbour. As he pointed out, in the period leading up to the defining of the name deal and, certainly, before its ratification, Greece isn’t ready to accept interpretations ...

The UN Mediator for the name issue between Macedonia and Greece Matthew Nimetz met in New York the Greek Alternative Minister of Foreign Affairs Georgios Katrougalos, with whom he discussed the implementation of the Prespa Agreement in both Macedonia and Greece. After the meeting, Nimetz said in a press conference that the Prespa Agreement is very important for the stability ...

The Japanese diplomat who served as UN Secretary-General’s Personal Representative for the war in the former Yugoslavia Yasushi Akashi expressed support for the Prespa Agreement between Macedonia and Greece. “This is a very good agreement for the people in both countries. The countries in the Balkan region should finally reach the pint of reconciliation, and the fastest way to do ...

The Greek PM Alexis Tsipras said during a conference of the Greek-American Economic Chamber that Greece has achieved a historic agreement with Macedonia about the name issue. “This is an era in which the traditional relations between the countries are constantly tested, and nationalistic opinions are becoming stronger, and in some countries even come to power. Against his retrograde current, ...

The Greek MEP Stelios Kuloglu addressed several questions to the EU’s High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini concerning former Macedonian PM Nikola Gruevski’s escape from Macedonia to Hungary, an EU member-state. “Does the decision of Hungary to grant asylum to Gruevski provoke certain questions by the EU? What can the EU do to prevent one of its ...

The Greek Alternative Foreign Minister Georgios Katrougalos commented on the ongoing processes for constitutional changes in Macedonia in an interview for Greek web portal “News 247”. “A very good framework of communications with the other side has been renewed. I have no doubt that our neighbours and we will completely implement the Prespa Agreement. I have no doubts that the ...

According to Bulgarian PM Boyko Borissov, it will be better for both his country and Greece if Macedonia joins the EU and NATO sooner. “There’s no better place than the European Union. In Greece, too, when the crisis appeared, who actually helped it? Who stood next to it? The European Union. If, God forbid, a problem appears, who will help ...

Regarding Article 36 of the Constitution, where the new name will not replace the current one in the document, to which there have been reactions from Greece, PM Zoran Zaev said on Thursday those were historical parts in the Constitution itself. “The Greek side understands that,” he pointed out. As regards Wednesday’s protest outside the Criminal Court and calls for ...

The Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Issues started on Wednesday the debate on the four draft amendments to the Constitution that will last a maximum of 12 days. PM Zoran Zaev presented the four draft amendments and said they were the price that Macedonia should pay for the Euro-integration process. According to him, the fact that they will apply once Greece ...

Greek opposition party New Democracy is dissatisfied with the Macedonian Government’s amendments. “PM Zoran Zaev’s proposal for the neighbouring country’s revision of the Constitution makes the already bad Prespa Agreement worse. It keeps Article 36, which not only maintains irredentism, but also encourages it. Also, it confirms Skopje’s insistence on existence of an alleged ‘Macedonian nation’. Though the Government claims ...