International media had named FYROM’s capital Skopje as the most kitsch city in the world after former Prime Minister Gruevski turned it into something of a bizarre theme-park with statues of historical figures from countries other than his own. The most famous figure ‘kidnapped’ was Alexander the Great.
Gruevski’s "Skopje 2014" programme provoked Greece with its deliberate cultural appropriation strategy which in turn created tensions with Greece.
What made matters worse this mish-mash of all manner of architectural styles and appropriated history cost the people of FYROM close to 700 million dollars.
Zoran Zaev's government initiative came after earlier confidence-building measures by his government, such as renaming Skopje airport and a major highway previously named for Alexander the Great.
Meanwhile, Alternate Minister for Foreign Affairs George Katrougalos said in a letter to the EU Commissioner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn that Greece will support FYROM's introduction in the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian region (EUSAIR).
EUSAIR was developed by the Commission, together with the Adriatic-Ionian Region countries and stakeholders to address common challenges and cooperate on issues such as "Blue Growth", connectivity (transport and energy), environment and tourism.
The strategy covers eight countries: four EU member-states (Croatia, Greece, Italy, Slovenia) and four non-EU countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia).
