Athens, 16 July 2024 (MIA) — Greece is the "supervisor" of Skopje's European path and it cannot move toward Europe unless the name issue is resolved through the neighboring country's government clearly stating that the new name applies to everyone, confirming the treaty they signed. "We are not asking for anything else. Pacta sunt servanda," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a Sky TV appearance on Tuesday evening, MIA's Athens correspondent reports.

In the interview for the Greek television's primetime news, Mitsotakis pointed out that "Greece is not alone and has the support of entire Europe" on this issue and the Greek position was "absolutely understandable."

He stressed that North Macedonia had joined NATO because the name issue was resolved through the Prespa Agreement.

"The Prespa Agreement had other weaknesses, but the one article of the Prespa Agreement that refers to the name, erga omnes, the name Republic of North Macedonia for overall use, is not subject to any challenges or legal interpretations. This is the name of the country and no one can call it by any other name," Mitsotakis said. 

"I made it absolutely clear to the Prime Minister of North Macedonia during the NATO Summit that he was at that table precisely because of the signed agreement, which he is currently not honoring," Mitsotakis said.

He reiterated that he had personally been against the Prespa Agreement because of its provisions on the Macedonian nationality and language and not because of the name.

"Our neighbors should honor this agreement because we want them close to Europe. We don't want to fall out with them," Mitsotakis told Sky TV. mr/