By Tom Ellis
North Macedonia’s nationalist leadership is not helping its country’s prospects by its behavior towards Greece, arguably its most important neighbor in terms of geopolitical imprint and the size of its economy, as well as its longtime membership of NATO and the European Union.
The aggressive rhetoric of the country’s prime minister, Hristijan Mickoski, who takes pride in violating the international agreement between Skopje and Athens, is unacceptable and will have negative repercussions.
His declaration that he has effectively restored the use of “Macedonia” domestically is not only an aggressive act towards Greece; it is also illegal as it is a clear violation of the pact signed by the two neighbors more than seven years ago, which, among other elements, included the change of the country’s constitutional name.
The 2018 Prespa Agreement resolved the decades-long name dispute between Athens and Skopje, making the latter’s accession into NATO possible and opening the path for a similar eventuality with respect to the EU.
The agreement, which was a major compromise for both sides, including, if not more so, Greece, is now part of North Macedonia’s constitution and is fully binding. Greece and North Macedonia have to respect it both at the international and domestic levels.
For Skopje, relations with Athens are a crucial part of its future. They are not only the key to its eventual accession into the European Union, with the economic and geopolitical benefits that come with it; they are part of a broader equation that has to do with North Macedonia’s stability and commercial prospects.
Greece has demonstrated its sincere interest in being one of the most dedicated advocates of bringing the Western Balkans into the Union. Its support of neighboring Albania’s efforts – reiterated during the visit to Athens a few days ago by the latter’s foreign minister – is proof of that.
But all the interested parties have to act accordingly.
As North Macedonia’s constitutional name is explicitly defined in Article 1 of the Prespa Agreement, Athens has dismissed any effort to “counterfeit or alter” the contents of the agreement, which is “part of international law, and compliance with it is a foundation of people’s and states’ peaceful coexistence.”
If Mickoski continues down the slippery slope of not complying with the agreement – in essence violating the principle of good neighborly relations – he will be the one to blame for any consequences his country faces.
Source: Kathimerini