Athens, 11 July 2024 (MIA) - The Government and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis follow a responsible foreign policy and we directly state that North Macedonia’s European path crosses through Greece, and evidently, unless they change the way in which they approach the international agreements, they won’t move forward, the spokesperson of the Greek Government, Pavlos Marinakis, told reporters at Thursday’s regular media briefing, MIA’s Athens correspondent reports.

At the beginning of the briefing, the spokesperson noted what Kyriakos Mitsotakis mentioned during his participation in the NATO Summit regarding the Prespa Agreement “stressing that its complete implementation is necessary for the NATO Alliance and the Western Balkans”.

“Additionally, he warned that its violation or selective compliance not only undermines the credibility of all efforts to solve the open issues in the Western Balkans, but also endangers the security in the broader region,” Marinakis said, adding that Mitsotakis in his address stressed that “pacta sunt servanda”, i.e., agreements must be respected.

The government spokesperson noted that New Democracy did not vote for the Prespa Agreement, since, he said, it contains shortcomings in the protective measures and provisions.

“A position, which, today is in fact justified. That’s also why we didn’t ratify the protocols from the Agreement, nor will we do that, unless the neighboring country complies with the obligations it has taken. However, it is evident that progress, security and prosperity are founded on respect for international law and international agreements. And until our neighbors realize that, their European perspective will remain closed,” Marinakis said.

Despite participating in the same events at the NATO Summit in Washington, the prime ministers of the two countries did not hold a bilateral meeting, MIA’s Athens correspondent asked Marinakis why Mitsotakis and Mickoski didn’t meet. “What I know is that a meeting wasn’t held, I don’t know anything more to tell you,” the spokesperson briefly answered.

As of Wednesday, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has been present in Greek media due to his use of the name Macedonia in a statement at the Summit. Opposition party SYRIZA also issued a reaction, stating that it represents a violation of the Prespa Agreement and urging the Greek Government “to wake up from its diplomatic dream” and block the country’s EU perspective.

“SYRIZA unequivocally condemns the new violation of the Prespa Agreement by the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Mr. Mickoski, during the NATO Summit, and urges Mitsotakis’ Government to finally wake up from the diplomatic lethargy it has fallen into and to take the outlined actions, so that the Government of North Macedonia faces its responsibilities,” the Greek opposition party said.

The party also urged Mickoski “to finally come to terms with international law and reality”, and asked Mitsotakis “to mobilize and announce a blockade of the European perspective of North Macedonia until it complies with the Agreement”.

Commenting on SYRIZA’s position, Marinakis told reporters “we are talking about paranoia” because, he said, “the same party that a few weeks ago requested the ratification of the memoranda stemming from the Prespa Agreement, including the one that refers to North Macedonia’s European integration, is now demanding that the Greek Government stops the European integration of North Macedonia.”