Athens, 9 July 2024 (MIA) – Hearing that the new Government of North Macedonia refers to the country as "Republic of Macedonia" at home makes me seriously concerned and of course it is an issue that I want to raise, it is not constructive, it does not help on North Macedonia's European path and it is an unnecessary complication, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during a discussion with former U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Daniel Speckhard, organized by the think tank “Council on Foreign Relations” in Washington, MIA's Athens correspondent reports. 

Mitsotakis pointed out that North Macedonia is now a NATO member because Greece lifted the veto following the Prespa Agreement, noting that it is an agreement signed by the previous government, but he observes it because it is an international agreement that binds the country.

"But the most fundamental aspect of the Prespa Agreement is the name North Macedonia which must be used everywhere, both at home and abroad. And this is not negotiable, this is clear, it is in the Prespa Agreement and it is something that Greece does not negotiate. Hearing that the new Government of North Macedonia refers to the country as "Republic of Macedonia" at home makes me seriously concerned and of course it is an issue that I want to raise, it is not constructive, it does not help on North Macedonia's European path and I would say that it is an unnecessary complication at a time when everyone should be looking for points of convergence," said Mitsotakis.