In an interview on Thursday, US Ambassador to Greece George Tsunis called on the new government of North Macedonia to comply with the Prespa Agreement to avoid unnecessary tensions.
Speaking to national broadcaster ERTNews, and asked whether he was aware that North Macedonia’s new government had violated the Prespa Agreement, and whether there is a way for NATO to ensure the new government complied with the Prespa Agreement, Tsunis replied that he did not wish to be tough on them, as it was a new government.
He emphasized however that it would be wrong to do anything that could jeopardize the Prespa Agreement.
Tsunis: Deal with North Macedonia must be respected
It was a hard-fought, historic agreement that should be respected, he noted. He also expressed surprise that the neighboring country’s new government would not refer to North Macedonia by its constitutional name.
He stressed that everyone is surprised, but everyone is trying to respectfully urge them to refer to their country by its constitutional name.
Asked if he thought the country was jeopardizing its European path, Tsunis stressed that he was not speaking on behalf of Europe, but reiterated what the US government has said, namely that America had made a serious recommendation to its friends in North Macedonia to refer to their country by its constitutional name.
The Prespa Agreement is in force and must be respected, Tsunis added because international agreements between states are the very backbone of diplomacy.
Failure to comply with them would lead to unnecessary tensions, which was something that should be avoided, he underlined.
Greece raises provocations at NATO
Earlier this week the Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis raised the recent provocations of North Macedonia on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Washington.
During a discussion with former ambassador to Greece Daniel Speckhard at the Council on Foreign Relations, Mitsotakis stressed that using the constitutional name of the Republic of North Macedonia for all uses is non-negotiable.
Recent elections in North Macedonia brought a right-wing government that has publicly continued to use the name “Macedonia,” contrary to the Prespa agreement.
The problem with the Balkans is that very often the ghost of nationalism rises again when nobody necessarily expects it, Mitsotakis said, about North Macedonia.
“Today, North Macedonia is a member of NATO because Greece withdrew its veto following the Prespa Agreement that was signed and ratified by the previous government. We have clarified that it is an international treaty that places the country under obligations. We respected it and we respect it.
“One of the fundamental – if not the most fundamental – doctrines, aspects of this agreement relates to the name ‘North Macedonia’ that is used erga omnes. And this is very clear and non-negotiable for Greece.
“When I hear that the new government refers to the country as the Republic of Macedonia domestically, I have serious concerns. And this is an issue I plan to raise. It is not constructive and it does not help North Macedonia’s European path,” Mitsotakis underlined.
