Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as widely expected, did not let the latest provocation by the new prime minister of the Republic of North Macedonia on Wednesday go unanswered, reportedly reminding during his introductory remarks at a NATO summit that progress, security, and prosperity are based on respect of international law and international treaties
The part about “international treaties” comes after repeated and high-profile violations of the landmark 2018 Prespa Agreement, which normalized relations between Athens and Skopje and opened the path for the renamed Republic of North Macedonia to join NATO. It was at this alliance’s summit in Washington D.C. that North Macedonia Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, only hours earlier, referred to “Macedonia” stand-alone and the “Macedonian government” – the most flagrant violation of the agreement to date.
Taking his que from a remark by US President Joe Biden, who underlined the importance of the western Balkans for the Alliance’s security, Mitsotakis pointed directly at the Prespa Agreement which, as he said, paved the way for NATO’s enlargement with the accession of North Macedonia.
Mitsotakis also warned that any violation or selective implementation of the agreement will undermine the credibility of efforts to settle the still outstanding issues in the western Balkans, thereby threatening the region’s stability and security. “Pacta sunt servanta: this is something we must all remember,” he stressed, using the well-known Latin phrase for “agreements must be kept.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets France’s President Emmanuel Macron, as he stand with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Greek Prime Minister Kiriakos Mitsotakis, during NATO’s 75th anniversary summit in Washington, U.S., July 10, 2024. REUTERS/Yves Herman
