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Gerapteritis: Greece supports international law and respects the Prespa Agreement, and demands the same from North Macedonia

by AI | 03.Jun 2024 | Europe in brief AI

President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova from Ohrid pointed out that she respects the Prespa Agreement, as well as, “unlike others,” respects international law. She emphasized that the way she will use the name of the state is “a personal choice, a right guaranteed by acts higher than bilateral agreements.”

Yorgos Gerapetritis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece (Photo: Greek MFA)

Athens/Ohrid – A fundamental principle of international law is the respect for treaties. Greece consistently supports international law and adheres to the Prespa Agreement as a ratified international treaty. We demand the same from North Macedonia, emphasized the Greek Foreign Minister Georgios Gerapetritis in an interview for the Greek newspaper “Ethnikos Kirikas” published in the USA, reported MIA’s correspondent from Athens.

Gerapetritis said that “recent statements by the president and the leader of VMRO-DPMNE undermine the Prespa Agreement, which, without exception, binds all leaderships of North Macedonia.” – We have emphasized the obligation of North Macedonia to fully comply with the Prespa Agreement and the constitutional name of the country and have presented the need for its consistent and well-intentioned implementation at all international forums, said the head of Greek diplomacy.

President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova from Ohrid pointed out that she respects the Prespa Agreement, as well as that, “unlike others,” she respects international law. She emphasized that the way she will use the name of the country is a “personal decision, a right guaranteed by higher acts than bilateral agreements.” Siljanovska-Davkova stated to the media that through conversations she will convince the Greeks that she is right in using the name Macedonia instead of the constitutional name of the country. Regarding how she will implement this, she said she has a plan.

The new President of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, taking the oath in the Assembly. (Photo: MIA)

– The plan is to build good neighborly relations. The plan is to offer respect and seek self-respect. And I think that as in politics we should seek the art of the possible, we will do it soon. My first statement was that I will not go around the world, that I want to meet with neighbors, and I think I will achieve that. Of course, discussions require everyone around you, and we have no choice but to talk. Dialogue is a healthy thing and if there is no mutual respect, there will be no results. Politics requires dialogue and I am ready to pursue that and mutually overcome the problems, emphasized Siljanovska-Davkova.

Regarding warnings from official Athens that the possibility of initiating proceedings before the International Court of Justice in The Hague for non-compliance with the provisions of the Prespa Agreement is not excluded, Siljanovska-Davkova reminded of the previous judgments of the same court that were not respected by Greece.

Siljanovska-Davkova, during the swearing-in ceremony upon taking office as President, used the name Republic of Macedonia instead of the constitutional name of the country, which elicited reactions from the international public, especially in neighboring Greece. (June 2)