site.btaGreece Sees Mickoski's Statement on Macedonian Question as Provocation

Greece's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has described the statements made by North Macedonia's Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski during his visit to the United States as a provocation against Greece. Mickoski claimed that the Macedonian Question remains unresolved and must be addressed, Greek media report.

Mickoski, who attended Monday's inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States, met with representatives of Macedonian organizations in New Jersey on Wednesday. He later wrote on his Facebook profile, as cited by MIA: "The struggle at home is a struggle we will continue to fight – a struggle for better infrastructure, better healthcare, higher-quality education, a competitive economy – and we have been doing this since we were elected to govern. But this struggle of one of the smallest nations in Europe is not enough. We must also prevail in Washington, Brussels, Berlin, London, Paris, Rome, and other world capitals if we want the Macedonian Question to finally reach its resolution, because it is not solved, it has been simmering for centuries and still remains unresolved."

In a statement released by ANA-MPA, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Mickoski's remarks in New Jersey, USA, referred to an "unresolved" and "existing" Macedonian Question. According to Greece, it is provocative that Mickoski attempts to bring back to the agenda an issue that was definitively and irreversibly resolved. Greece reminded that further progress in its bilateral relations with North Macedonia, as well as the smooth continuation of North Macedonia's European path, requires full compliance with the Prespa Agreement and the avoidance of irredentist statements and claims against neighbouring states.