The Greek Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the new president’s words violated the terms of the 2018 Prespa International Agreement between Athens and Skopje, and jeopardized bilateral relations and North Macedonia’s prospects for joining the European Union.
Under the historic Prespa Agreement, the country’s name and constitution were changed, allowing North Macedonia to join NATO in 2020 and begin the process of joining the European Union.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “For North Macedonia to continue its successful path to joining the European Union, it is crucial that the country continues on the path of reforms and fully respects its binding agreements, including the Prespa Agreement.” to publish On X.
Greece has blocked North Macedonia from joining the European Union and NATO for decades, claiming that by calling itself “Macedonia,” its Balkan neighbor is appropriating a Greek name as well as the history of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia.
Over the past two years, Bulgaria has also blocked North Macedonia’s application to join the European Union, demanding that its constitution be amended again to recognize the country’s Bulgarian minority.
The Prespa Agreement was signed by the government of the time, led by the socialist SDSM party. By contrast, the nationalist VMRO, to which Siljanovska-Davkova belongs, has always broken the agreement. During his campaign for last week’s parliamentary elections, VMRO leader Hristijan Mycoski accused the Social Democratic Movement of making humiliating concessions to settle disputes with nationalist neighbours, and continued to call the country “Macedonia” despite the Prespa Agreement.
“Infuriatingly humble analyst. Bacon maven. Proud food specialist. Certified reader. Avid writer. Zombie advocate. Incurable problem solver.”