Mitsotakis Warns North Macedonia on EU Path, Touts Improved Greek-Turkish Relations

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has issued a stern warning to the new leadership of North Macedonia, stating that their defiance of the 2019 Prespa Agreement with Greece will jeopardize their country's aspirations to join the European Union.

Speaking on the campaign trail on Saturday, Mitsotakis referred to the refusal of President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova and Prime Minister-elect Hristijan Mickoski to comply with the agreement regarding North Macedonia's name. He emphasized that "when you pull the rope, you have to be ready to break it."

"If the leadership deviates from the agreed course, the road to Europe will be closed," Mitsotakis declared, stressing that this path "passes through Greece and through the observance of international law."

Thaw in Greek-Turkish Relations

Regarding the recent thaw in Greek-Turkish relations, Mitsotakis expressed optimism. "I said two years ago that ‘the provocations stop and the talks begin,’ and Mr [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan has now joined this path," he said.

However, Mitsotakis clarified that "a package solution is not being discussed" with Turkey. "Greece does not forget its disagreements with Turkey. But this does not mean that we have to live with our finger on the trigger all the time," he noted.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the positive results of his government's policy towards Turkey, which has led to a decrease in migration flows from the neighboring country.