The Kutlesh Sun goes down in history


The symbol of Kutlesh goes down in history. Six months after the formalization of the name issue in Mala Prespa, Macedonia will have to start implementing a provision under which it will not use the former flag symbol in public spaces by public and state-owned institutions. The monuments in downtown Skopje will not be demolished, […]

Greek Defense Minister: Only way to challenge the Agreement is to create a legal argument if one of the parties violates its terms


Once the agreement has been signed and ratified in Parliament, it creates a plethora of legal responsibilities which make it difficult for anyone to disengage, Greece’s Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said in an interview with Parapolitika newspaper, in an answer to a question about the Prespa Agreement. The Greek Minister, also a lawyer, says the […]

Pyatt: United States supports North Macedonia to become an effective NATO member


The United States Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt, in an interview with Greek daily Kathimerini, said that the US focus is to support North Macedonia to become powerful and effective NATO member state. Concerning signaling from new Greek government on Prespa Agreement, he said that “he will leave the Greek government alone to speak about […]

Mitsotakis: The conduct and cooperation of our neighbors will define their path to the EU


Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in a speech related to the government’s confidence vote, said that he conduct and cooperation of our neighbors will define their path to the European Union. Mitsotakis briefly referred to the Prespa Agreement and Greek-Turkish relations. “As we have said on several occasions, a priority is to mitigate the negative […]

Pragmatic shift of the Greek Government on the Macedonian problem


New Democracy may have made the most of the nationalistic sentiments of a part of society regarding the Macedonian issue, in order to win the elections comfortably, but as a government it is preparing a pragmatic shift. Sources say that in his programme statements, the prime minister will be careful in his mention of the […]

How will Mitsotakis’ win affect relations with North Macedonia?


The victory of New Democracy party in yesterday’s parliamentary elections held in Greece was the focus of political debate in North Macedonia. What will the country’s new PM, Mitsotakis, do about the Prespa Agreement signed between Tsipras and Zaev, a deal which put an end to a long lasting dispute between Athens and Skopje? Former […]

Greek PM Tsipras: Our neighbor meets the required criteria for starting the accession process


In an interview with ERT3, Greece’s Prime Minister Tsipras says the delay of North Macedonia’s accession negotiations is owed to the German Bundestag’s impossibility to give the green light “because of the summer break”. “The delay of North Macedonia’s accession negotiations is not a result of the country’s failure to implement reforms, but mainly because of […]

Zaev and Lajčák both agree: The Prespa Agreement focuses on the future


We believe that a decision on the opening of accession negotiations is important not only for us, but also for the message spread all over the region and beyond that to invest in reforms and good neighborly ties is to invest in a better future for the citizens, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said Wednesday at […]

One year since the Prespa Agreement, divisions are still evident


“Republic of Macedonia” or “Republic of North Macedonia”. People are still divided over this on the first anniversary of the signing of the Prespa Agreement. Most people believe that the best option is for the country to move forward and secure a better future. This is also the opinion of Violeta S from Skopje, who […]

Nimetz: The Prespa Agreement was probably the highlight of my career


US diplomat Matthew Nimetz that had served as mediator in the Skopje-Athens name dispute for the past 25 years, has admitted that leading up to the signing of the 2018 Prespa Agreement he wasn’t sure the whole process would be completed, having doubts even after it was signed. Nimetz says he will remember the day […]

Tsipras: Opponents would grasp the significance of the Prespa Agreement in 10 years


Even those who are now well-intentioned in opposing the Prespa Agreement, would grasp its significance for Greece in 10 years or less, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in an interview with the Greek Antenna TV. “Konstantinos Mitsotakis used to say that in 10 years we’d forget about this issue. Today, I can safely say […]

Hahn: Prespa agreement may act as a good example for the region


Prespa Agreement between North Macedonia and Greece could lead to other agreements in the Balkans, says the European Union’s commissioner for neighbourhood policy and enlargement negotiations Johannes Hahn. “I think we were both very successful, and the U.S. was very supportive on what we call today North Macedonia,” Hahn tells in his interview with The Washington Post, […]

IBNA / Meleșcanu: I am very grateful for the effort of Greece and North Macedonia


In his exclusive interview with IBNA, Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Meleşcanu states his gratefulness for the effort of Greece and North Macedonia to reach the Prespa Agreement. The Prespa Agreement is a very good example for the other countries of the Balkans. A lesson indicating that if there is will, any differences can be […]

Byrnes: Full implementation of the Prespa Agreement is crucial to the region


– North Macedonia is on its chosen path to NATO and the European Union. Through the Prespa Agreement, the political leaders of North Macedonia and Greece overcame difficult historical issues by focusing on a future of progress. The United States supported the leaders on both sides who drove this process – said Kate Byrnes, who […]

Debate over new country name continues in North Macedonia


While North Macedonia is getting ready to hold presidential elections, the opposition continues to contest the country’s new name which was decided by the Prespa agreement that Skopje and Athens signed. Leader of opposition party VMRO-DPMNE, Hristijan Mickoski said that personally, he will never use the country’s constitutional name, pledging that as soon as he […]

EU Parliament Speakers support the Prespa Agreement and EU integration


Parliament Speaker of North Macedonia Talat Xhaferi is attending the Conference of Speakers of the European Union Parliaments, which takes place 8-9 April in Vienna. The Speakers of Parliaments of EU candidate countries are also invited to participate as observers. The gathering is chaired by Wolfgang Sobotka, President of the Austrian National Council and Ingo […]

Greek Government satisfied with the results of Alexis Tsipras’ visit to North Macedonia


Government circles express satisfaction over the visit of the Greek Prime Minister to Skopje, as the government stresses after 30 years of inertia, tension and suspicion, the implementation of the Prespа Agreement acts as a bridge of strategic cooperation in a number of critical areas. Government officials refer to the internationally acclaimed press reports that […]

Zaev and Tsipras get support from 33 MEPs for the Nobel Peace Prize


33 MEPs from 16 countries support Zaev and Tsipras to be nominated for Nobel Peace Prize. This is the first time that such a pioneering agreement, like the Prespa Agreement, is being reached in the Balkan region, write the MEPs from 16 countries and six political groups in the European Parliament, who signed a letter […]