Greek Foreign Ministry Condemns North Macedonian PM's Statements as Provocative

The Greek Foreign Ministry has denounced recent comments by the Prime Minister of North Macedonia during his visit to the United States, describing them as a "provocation" and an attempt to reignite a matter that has been definitively resolved.

In an official statement released on Thursday, the ministry criticised the remarks made in New Jersey, where the North Macedonian Prime Minister referred to an "unsolved" and "extant" Macedonian issue. "This event constitutes a provocation for Greece, attempting to bring back to the fore an issue that has been resolved, as we know, finally and irrevocably," the statement read.

The Greek government emphasised that the stability of bilateral relations with North Macedonia—as well as the country's progress toward European integration—depends on the full implementation of the Prespa Agreement, which ended a decades-long dispute over the name “Macedonia” in 2018.

“Greece reminds that the further progress of bilateral relations with North Macedonia and the smooth continuation of the European course of the neighbouring country require full respect of the Prespa Agreement and, of course, abstaining from irredentist proclamations and claims against neighbouring countries," the Foreign Ministry underlined.

The Prespa Agreement, which resolved the contentious name dispute, led to North Macedonia's official name change and marked a turning point in relations between the two countries. However, Athens has remained vigilant against what it perceives as potential violations of the agreement.

This latest diplomatic flare-up underscores lingering sensitivities over the issue, despite efforts to normalise relations in recent years.