Skopje, 13 September 2023 (MIA) - The Prespa Agreement is continually implemented and this is a task for both sides. We expect Greece to fulfill its part of the agreement related to the traffic signs because it is time to change them, five years after the treaty's signing, since they point to a non-existent country 'fyrom', says former prime minister Zoran Zaev in an interview with Greek TV station One Channel.

On the other hand, says Zaev, the process of replacing personal identification documents of Macedonian citizens with the country's new name will be completed at the start of 2024.

"Let me emphasize that the most important aspect of the Prespa Agreement is to bring bilateral political relations to normal, and this is seen through active and regular communication, high-level bilateral meetings that resulted in the first official visit of a Macedonian President to Greece, as well as the first official visit of a Greek PM to North Macedonia," says Zaev.

He adds that the Prespa Agreement has opened a better future for both countries, a new era of mutual cooperation and regional stability.

"Thanks to the Prespa Agreement, North Macedonia is closer to the EU and building a brighter future for coming generations with the support from Greece and other partners," says Zaev.

According to him, the European Union is not a dream but reality, because the country has received a timeframe of joining the EU by 2030.

"This is why I am an optimist. It now remains for the opposition to be convinced this is the right time to speed up the process of implementing our tasks and move forward if we want to stick with the remaining candidate-states from the region that join the Union in 2030," says Zaev.

He adds that waiting and putting the European integration process on hold is not the right strategy.

"We must continue the process of negotiations and move forward in order to be recognized as a country that promotes European democratic values," underlines Zaev.