Greek PM visits North Macedonia in afterglow of name deal
SKOPJE, Republic of North Macedonia: Greece’s prime minister landed in Skopje Tuesday for a historic visit to the newly renamed North Macedonia to join in marking the end of a decadeslong identity row between the two countries.
The one- day trip comes a month after Alexis Tsipras and his Skopje counterpart Zoran Zaev finalised the deal that added “North” to Macedonia’s name to distinguish it from a bordering province in Greece.
It is the first official visit by a Greek prime minister since the former Yugoslav republic declared independence in 1991, kicking off the name row that roiled diplomatic ties for nearly three decades as the neighbours tussled for ownership of the name Macedonia and its cultural heritage.
In the end, Skopje agreed to the change in exchange for assurance that Athens would stop thwarting its efforts to join Nato and the European Union.
Now the neighbours are also touting the promise of boosting economic ties, with Tsipras travel ling with 10 ministers and more than two dozen Greek business leaders.
After political meetings and a press conference yesterday, the two politicians are scheduled to attend a business forum.
Ahead of the visit, Zaev told AFP there would be new Greek investments worth more than 500 million euros in North Macedonia, which is much smaller and poorer than its EU member neighbour.
“The Republ ic of Nor th Macedonia wi l l have huge economic benefits from the deal that I believe will be seen in every area of the economy,” the prime minister added.
Sinc e the ini t i a l n ame accord was inked in June 2018, congratulations have poured in from around the globe for the two young premiers, who took on risky political battles at home to push the deal through, enraging nationalists in both countries. — AFP