The foreign ministers of Greece and Macedonia signed the treaty with which the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will now be called “the Republic of Northern Macedonia”. The treaty was signed in the Greek village on the coast of Lake Prespa, then the delegation will be transferred to Macedonia.
“In times when there was a lot of mistrust, we put an end to a dispute which lasted several years. This was three decades of uncertainty about uncertainty for our future”, Zoran Zaev said.
“The region has experienced enough suffering, so let us from now on sing a joy songs in the Balkans”, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said during the press conference.
This move was not unequivocally welcomed in both countries. Thousands of Greeks protested against the agreement in front of the greek parliament, urging Tsipras to resign. Protests were also organized by the opposition in Macedonia.
The historic event also attended the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn, as well as UN Deputy Secretary General Rosemary di Carlo. Ministers of Defence, Home Affairs and European Affairs are also present in the delegation of Macedonia.
The Agreement with Greece is entitled “Final agreement on resolving the differences described in UN Security Council resolutions 817 and 845 to terminate the 1995 Interim Accord and establish a strategic partnership between the parties”.
Following the signing of the historical agreement, a procedure is pending in Greece and Macedonia for approval for the new name.
Signing the treaty is key to Macedonia’s European future. Following the resolution of the name dispute, Skopje is expected to receive the long-awaited invitation to start EU and NATO membership talks.
On 17 April this year, the EC recommended the EU to launch a call for membership talks with Skopje. This is an historic day for both sides, both for the EU and for the Balkans, said Mogherini when she arrived in Oteshevo. She announced that the EU will monitor the implementation of the treaty, as it is important not only for both sides, but also for Europe and the world. Mogherini said the agreement “makes Europe more peaceful and more calm”, adding that today is a “wonderful day” for Europe, the Balkans and the EU.
“This is an historic day and an opportunity for the citizens of Northern Macedonia to get positive responses to Euro-Atlantic integrations. Everyone will see that the treaty is a good compromise in which everyone wins something”, Commissioner Johannes Hahn said.
