site.btaNorth Macedonia's Foreign Ministry Urges Country's Politicians to Respect Prespa Deal

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia urged the country's politicians "especially the elected state functionaries" to be cautious about respecting the Prespa Agreement on relations with Greece.

A statement from the ministry, whose minister is still Bujar Osmani, "reaffirmed the country's full determination to unequivocally comply with the constitutional provisions as well as with all internationally undertaken obligations, such as full compliance with the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the Republic of North Macedonia and the Hellenic Republic."

"Over the past seven years, the two neighbouring countries have developed an extremely high level of political dialogue, which has led to a repeated increase in economic cooperation and the building of positive people-to-people relations. These benefits have led to the country's membership in NATO, the opening of negotiations with the European Union, and the upgrading of the Strategic Partnership into a Strategic Dialogue with the United States. Maintaining the country's Euro-Atlantic course is a key strategic interest and a guarantor of the country's long-term security and stability," the release said.

During the swearing-in ceremony on Sunday, newly elected President of the Republic of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska did not pronounce the constitutional name of the state of North Macedonia, pronouncing only Macedonia, which led to a reaction from Greece. Greece's ambassador left the plenary chamber in Parliament during the swearing-in ceremony. Greece's foreign ministry described Siljanovska's behaviour as an open violation of the Prespa Agreement, and EC President Ursula von der Leyen warned North Macedonia to respect the provisions of the document.