Six Years On, Greece-North Macedonia Deal Still Raises Tensions

Six years after the landmark ‘name’ agreement was signed between Greece and North Macedonia, tensions persist as political shifts in North Macedonia cast doubt on the agreement’s stability.

The internationally brokered Prespa deal, signed in 2018, ended a nearly three-decade-long dispute over the use of the name “Macedonia,” which Greece opposed due to its own northern region sharing the same name.

The recent victory of the right-wing VMRO DPMNE party in North Macedonia‘s elections has sparked concerns. The party’s leader has been vocal in his refusal to use the country’s agreed-upon constitutional name, which was a cornerstone of the Prespa agreement. This stance has reignited fears of a potential reversal or erosion of the hard-won diplomatic resolution.

To commemorate the sixth anniversary of the agreement, key figures involved, including former Prime Ministers Alexis Tsipras of Greece and Zoran Zaev of North Macedonia, gathered in Athens for the International Conference on Peace and Sustainable Development. UN mediator Matthew Nimetz was also present and received the inaugural “Prespa Peace Award” in recognition of his role in facilitating the historic accord.

During the conference, Nimetz highlighted the importance of respecting international agreements in maintaining regional stability, especially in the volatile Balkan region. “These agreements are the framework of our culture. If we don’t follow them, if we don’t respect them, we face very serious problems,” Nimetz emphasised.

Former Greek Prime Minister Tsipras underscored the broader implications of the Prespa agreement, noting that its failure to be upheld could jeopardise North Macedonia’s European Union aspirations and lead to international isolation. He warned against external influences from countries like Turkey and Russia, which he claimed were attempting to assert influence in the Balkans.

Zoran Zaev, reflecting on the political sacrifices made for the agreement, acknowledged the risks involved but reaffirmed their commitment to finding a solution. “We knew that we would face political consequences for this agreement. We were willing to enter into this solution,” Zaev stated.

The Prespa agreement, signed in the village of Psarades near Lake Prespa, resulted in North Macedonia changing its name to the Republic of North Macedonia. In return, Greece lifted its objections to its neighbor’s NATO membership, which North Macedonia achieved in 2020. However, progress towards EU accession has stalled due to issues with Bulgaria, which has raised separate concerns related to historical and cultural issues.

Despite significant steps taken to implement the agreement, such as changing the country’s name in passports, institutions, and other official documents, challenges remain. Certain obligations, including renaming the national broadcaster and the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, are still pending.

In Greece, protests against the event organised by Tsipras and Zaev were planned by right-wing groups, though they were banned by Greek authorities citing public safety concerns.

Read more: Prespa Peace Award

(Source: Balkan Insight)