The recent swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected President of North Macedonia, Gordana Davkova Siljanovska, has caused quite a stir in Athens, Brussels, and many other European capitals. The uproar was not due to her being the first female president of the country or her landslide victory, but rather because of what she did not say during her oath of office.
President Davkova omitted the directional adjective “North” and simply said “Macedonia” while taking her oath, despite signing a formal oath under her country’s constitutional name on the same day. This gesture, in line with her campaign pledge to respect but not pronounce the full constitutional name of the country, raised concerns in neighboring Greece.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned that any deviation from the Prespa Agreement, which resolved the long-standing name issue between the two countries in 2018, would have severe consequences for their relations and North Macedonia’s European integration path.
The Prespa Agreement, hailed as a triumph of diplomacy and a significant milestone in the Balkans, was the result of years of negotiations and compromise. However, challenges remain in its implementation, with political opposition and external factors complicating the process.
Former Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov, who played a key role in negotiating the agreement, emphasized the importance of leadership in both Greece and North Macedonia to uphold the agreement and avoid reopening old disputes. He called for a display of leadership and urged both countries to move forward with the full implementation of the agreement, despite the challenges and opposition they may face.
In conclusion, the Prespa Agreement stands as a testament to the power of diplomacy and compromise in resolving long-standing conflicts. It is now up to the leaders of Greece and North Macedonia to show the necessary leadership to ensure its successful implementation and pave the way for a more stable and cooperative future in the region.