Macedonia & Greece: Name Issue

[Carlin]

Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos said he would resign from his post and leave the coalition government in the event the Prespes Agreement was passed by the Macedonian parliament.

Speaking to the top brass at the 1st Army in Larissa Kammenos said:

“I informed the outposts and staff who I met with that if the Prespes Agreement continues and was voted by FYROM I will resign from the National Defence Department, taking the burden of this responsibility, I will withdraw from the government.”

URL:

http://en.protothema.gr/greek-defence-minister-kammenos-says-he-will-resign-if-fyrom-passes-prespes-agreement/

[Carlin]

The final drafts of the constitutional revisions that the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia will have to ratify are in compliance with the Prespes accord, Greek government sources said late Wednesday, according to state-run news agency ANA-MPA.

The changes in RoM’s constitution are part of the requirements included in the deal signed with Greece last June to end a prolonged name dispute between the two countries.

According to the source, the main point of contention, paragraph 3 of article 49 which referred to “Macedonian people who live in neighboring countries” was changed to “diaspora,” similarly to the references that exist in the Greek constitution (article 108).

“Therefore, it corresponds to the letter and spirit of the Prespes agreement, whose ratification process is continuing,” the source said.

The same source said Zaev’s occasional “unfortunate statements” were likely made to placate his domestic audience and achieve the necessary majority to support the accord. However, it added, his commitment to the Prespes Agreement remains unchanged.

The final draft of the four constitutional amendments were submitted to Parliament on Wednesday to Parliament for ratification. The vote is expected in mid-January 2019.

URL:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/235640/article/ekathimerini/news/fyrom-constitutional-revisions-in-line-with-prespes-accord-says-govt-source

[Carlin]

Nikola Dimitrov interview with France 24 (in English):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjIS27qi0o4

[Rogi]

He basically says he and his lot are not capable of leading the nation successfully and therefore need someone else to do it and he thinks the beaurocrats of the European Union will do a better job.

[Carlin]

The constitutional issues’ committee of the parliament in Macedonia on Thursday approved further changes to the country’s constitution as stipulated in the name deal reached with Greece in June.

The committee ratified an amendment stipulating that the citizenship of the country’s people will be defined as “Macedonian/citizen of the Republic of North Macedonia,” adding however that the designation will neither determine nor predetermine the people’s ethnicity.

URL:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/235921/article/ekathimerini/news/fyrom-parliament-committee-approves-key-amendment

[Carlin]

Zoran Zaev said on Wednesday the agreement his country signed with Greece to resolve the decades-old name dispute will strengthen the small Balkan country’s dignity.

Speaking in an interview with a local television station, Zaev said nobody is questioning his country’s identity or official language, which is Macedonian.

He also expressed confidence his government will secure the 80 votes needed to approve the Prespes accord in the third vote in Parliament in a debate on January 9.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/236043/article/ekathimerini/news/zaev-says-prespes-accord-will-boost-fyroms-dignity

[Rogi]

DPMNE has said they're prepared to kick out more MP's and members, who vote or assist in the vote for the name change.

It sounds like it is a done deal and there are more from DPMNE who will sell out and the party is trying to pre-emptively mitigate the fallout.

[Pelagonija]

Will Zaev do it? Or will he bribe the Albs?

Беса и Алијансата за Албанците ја условуваат нивната поддршка за Преспанскиот договор со прифаќање на нивните барања Македонија да се дефинира како мултиетничка држава, албанскиот јазик да биде официјален на целата територија на земјата, а од државјанството да се избрише зборот македонско.


Full article

https://www.slobodnaevropa.mk/a/29697168.html

[Niko777]

According to Wikipedia, its Greek page version received more than 358.8 million visits in 2018, with “Greece”, “Macedonia”, “Alexander the Great” and “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” being the most popular searches.

Source: https://greekcitytimes.com/2019/01/0...ries-for-2018/

[maco2envy]

Will Zaev do it? Or will he bribe the Albs?

Беса и Алијансата за Албанците ја условуваат нивната поддршка за Преспанскиот договор со прифаќање на нивните барања Македонија да се дефинира како мултиетничка држава, албанскиот јазик да биде официјален на целата територија на земјата, а од државјанството да се избрише зборот македонско.


Full article

https://www.slobodnaevropa.mk/a/29697168.html

Zaev is a subhuman, of course he would accept it.

[Amphipolis]

Greece heading to early elections (based on tonight's TV interview of Tsipras).

Independent Greeks (Panos Kamenos) are about to withdraw from government in Friday, as soon as (or a little before) Prespa Agreement comes for voting in Parliament.

Tsipras clarified he will not continue as a minority government (an option suggested by Panos Kamenos) and prefers early elections.

Meanwhile several MPs are leaving Independent Greeks.




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[Gocka]

A wise poster (I can't recall his name), predicted some time ago that the Greeks never intended to adopt the deal in Greece. That the plan was to get Macedonia to make constitutional changes and them back out of the deal causing political turmoil in Macedonia.

Now that the Albanians have skin in the game and have gotten concessions, if Greece backs out does anyone believe the changes will be reversed?

[Gocka]

It was a rhetorical question, there isn't a snowflakes chance in hell that any of this is getting reversed, even if Greece backs out.

I would hope the changes would be reversed.

[Carlin]

Greece heading to early elections (based on tonight's TV interview of Tsipras).

Independent Greeks (Panos Kamenos) are about to withdraw from government in Friday, as soon as (or a little before) Prespa Agreement comes for voting in Parliament.

Tsipras clarified he will not continue as a minority government (an option suggested by Panos Kamenos) and prefers early elections.

Meanwhile several MPs are leaving Independent Greeks.




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URL:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/236405/article/ekathimerini/news/greek-pm-says-he-would-seek-confidence-vote-if-coalition-breaks-up

Asked about the timing of the ratification of the name deal in Athens, Tsipras said he will bring it before lawmakers immediately after the country receives official note of its completion in Rep. of Macedonia. He warned that if Greece refuses to ratify it after Rep. of Macedonia has been made to change its constitution "the country will become an international laughing stock."

[Soldier of Macedon]

And if they do ratify it, Macedonia will be the laughing stock.