North Macedonia's President Sparks Diplomatic Row by Omitting 'North' in Oath

North Macedonia's newly elected President, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, has ignited a diplomatic controversy by omitting 'North' from her country's name during her oath-taking ceremony on May 12, 2024. This move has alarmed Greece and threatens the Prespa Agreement, which resolved a 27-year name dispute and facilitated North Macedonia's NATO membership and EU accession.

Why this matters: The Prespa Agreement was a landmark deal that resolved a long-standing dispute between Greece andNorth Macedonia, paving the way for the latter's integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions. The President's actions threaten to unravel this hard-won progress and could have significant implications for North Macedonia's EU accession and regional stability.

During her inauguration, President Siljanovska-Davkova referred to her country as 'Macedonia,' breaking the 2018 Prespa Agreement. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis condemned the action as 'illegal and provocative,' warning that it jeopardizes bilateral relations and North Macedonia's chances of joining the EU.

The Prespa Agreement, signed in 2018, required North Macedonia to add 'North' to its name to distinguish it from Greece's province of Macedonia. This agreement ended a long-standing dispute that had hindered North Macedonia's integration into European institutions.

Greece's ambassador to Skopje, Sophia Philippidou, walked out of the inauguration ceremony in protest. The Greek Foreign Ministry stated that Siljanovska-Davkova's words violated the Prespa Agreement, endangering bilateral relations and North Macedonia's EU prospects.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of North Macedonia continuing on the path of reforms and respecting its binding agreements, including the Prespa Agreement, to advance its EU accession.

The incident has caused tensions within Greek politics, with opposition parties questioning the benefits of the Prespa Agreement. The name dispute between Greece and North Macedonia dates back to 1991, with Greece objecting to the use of 'Macedonia' due to its own province with the same name, which borders North Macedonia.

The VMRO-DPMNE party, led by Hristijan Mickoski, won commanding victories in parliamentary and presidential elections last week, ousting the centre-left Social Democrats who struck the Prespa deal with Greece. Prime Minister-elect Mickoski called the President's stance 'honourable,' further infuriating Greece.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis threatened to reimpose the Greek veto on North Macedonia's EU accession negotiations, stating, 'If some believe they can disregard the agreement, they should understand that their path to Europe will remain closed.'

This controversy has raised concerns about the potential impact on North Macedonia's EU accession bid, with Greece threatening to hinder the process if the agreement is not respected. The incident highlights the ongoing sensitivity surrounding the name dispute and the importance of adhering to international agreements.

Key Takeaways

• North Macedonia's President omitted "North" from her country's name, sparking a diplomatic row with Greece.
• The move threatens the Prespa Agreement, which resolved a 27-year name dispute and facilitated NATO membership and EU accession.
• Greece's PM condemned the action as "illegal and provocative," warning it jeopardizes bilateral relations and EU accession.
• The incident has raised tensions within Greek politics and may impact North Macedonia's EU accession bid.
• Greece threatens to reimpose its veto on North Macedonia's EU accession negotiations if the agreement is not respected.