Macedonia & Greece: Name Issue

[Risto the Great]

Do you think Zajko corrected Tsipras when he refered to Severna as FYROM?

That's complicated. It depends on whether he strategically employed the use of a butt plug immediately preceding the meeting. If yes, his reaming by Tsipras wouldn't have been so unbearable and he may have heard him saying it instead of wincing and trying to think of EU dollars in Panama.

[Risto the Great]

Zaev reiterated that NATO and EU membership were the priorities for his tiny Balkan state. “But we also want cooperation with Russia, China and the Eastern world,” he said.

And unicorns too.

[Tomche Makedonche]

Do you think Zajko corrected Tsipras when he refered to Severna as FYROM?

[Gocka]

When the headline about the selfie came up on my google news feed I think I blacked out with rage for a second. If I were to have witnessed it in front of my eyes I don't think I would have been able to control myself.

He should have been shot dead on the spot, end of story.

[Tomche Makedonche]

Its high five time

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-n...KCN1RE1LB?il=0

Selfies and air pact mark North Macedonia-Greece detente

SKOPJE (Reuters) - The leaders of Greece and North Macedonia hugged, took selfies and signed a new agreement for air patrols on Wednesday in a display of newly-friendly relations since a nearly three-decade name dispute was settled earlier this year.

North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev was all smiles as his counterpart Alexis Tsipras became the first Greek prime minister to pay an official visit to the ex-Yugoslav republic since it declared independence in 1991.

The pair struck a deal last year for Macedonia to be re-named North Macedonia - satisfying Greece’s longstanding complaint over an implied claim to its province also called Macedonia - and the change came into force in January.

The deal has opened the way for North Macedonia to seek membership of the European Union and NATO blocs.

Upon arrival, Tsipras and Zaev snapped selfies, while the Greek leader’s wife was presented with flowers.

The two prime ministers discussed infrastructure projects including improving a railway between the Macedonian capital Skopje and Greek port Thessaloniki

“We are writing history,” Zaev said.

“You are looking at two neighbors, friendly people who have shown Europe and the entire world that with brave decisions and good wishes for togetherness, something that was impossible yesterday has become reality today.”

“SILLY BEHAVIOR STOPS”

They agreed to cooperate in their defense industries, cyber protection and military intelligence.

Macedonia, which has no fighter jets, will also allow Greece to patrol its skies for the first time.

Calling Zaev his “dearest friend”, Tsipras said it was time to make up for nearly three “lost” decades.

“For years, every time I would go to Europe with the government aircraft ... I noticed that the pilot made a deviation so it wouldn’t enter the airspace of FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic Macedonia),” he said.

“This silly behavior now stops .. Not only won’t we make deviations, but we might also take a stroll to say hello.”

Zaev reiterated that NATO and EU membership were the priorities for his tiny Balkan state. “But we also want cooperation with Russia, China and the Eastern world,” he said.

The dispute had been on the United Nations’ agenda ever since the former Yugoslavia broke up in 1991 and Greece, swept up by nationalist rage, had slapped a short-lived trade embargo on the landlocked state.

EU commissioner for enlargement Johannes Hahn tweeted his congratulations, praising the pair for putting citizens and the region first. “Their courage and vision is a signal to the rest of South East Europe that hard nuts can be cracked,” he said.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...orth-macedonia

Greek PM stops for selfie on goodwill trip to North Macedonia

Alexis Tsipras talks of bridge building on first official visit after end of decades-long dispute

In a historic trip replete with bear hugs, red carpets, selfies and smiles, the Greek prime minister has attempted to bury the hatchet with the newly named North Macedonia, declaring the start of a new “narrative” between the once-hostile neighbouring states.

Making the first official visit by a Greek premier to the former Yugoslav republic since it declared independence in 1991, Alexis Tsipras arrived in Skopje two months after the Athens parliament ratified a landmark accord that changed the name of the Balkan country, which was previously known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

From the outset it was friendship – and the economy – that set the tone of Tsipras’s visit.

“We are here to build bridges and break down walls,” Tsipras announced at a joint press conference held alongside his counterpart, Zoran Zaev. “This is a historic moment not only for our countries, but for the Balkans and Europe.”

After almost 30 years of division, the two nations needed to move fast “to cover lost ground”, he said. Walking into Skopje’s main government building, the men posed for selfies amid spontaneous applause from politicians around them.

Under a pact signed last summer, the republic agreed to add the geographical qualifier “North” to its name to appease longstanding fears in Athens of territorial claims over the region of Macedonia in northern Greece.

“This agreement is an example to be mimicked by all,” said Zaev, hailing the one-day visit as a historic milestone.

“We showed Europe and the world that with bold decisions anything is possible … Greece is our friend now, she will remain our friend and will become an even greater friend in the future.”

But while the accord received widespread praise abroad – welcomed as a rare feelgood moment for Europe – it has enraged nationalists in both countries.

Emotion has run especially high in areas of northern Greece bordering North Macedonia, where opponents have accused Tsipras’s government of betrayal.

With both leaders facing elections this year – North Macedonia holds presidential polls on 21 April, while Greece will have general elections by October at the latest – the emphasis was on the benefits the two countries stand to gain from a deal that has helped to reshape the once war-torn Balkan peninsula.

Before the accord was brokered, Greece had vetoed its northern neighbour’s bid to launch membership talks with both Nato and the European Union – a move that had frustrated western leaders concerned by perceived Russian meddling in the strategically important region.

In a day of fence-building, the focus was on consolidating ties in concrete ways. As part of a national action plan, discussed in the first high-level cooperation council during the visit, everything from civil aviation to digital policy and the rewording of history books was broached.

“For years, every time I would go to Europe with the government aircraft ... I noticed that the pilot made a deviation so it wouldn’t enter the airspace of FYROM [Former Yugoslav Republic Macedonia],” said Tsipras. “This silly behaviour now stops ... Not only won’t we make deviations, but we might also take a stroll to say hello.”

Ten cabinet ministers, accompanying Tsipras on the trip, signed a slew of deals in the fields of economy, defence, infrastructure and transport. Tsipras also announced that Greece would move immediately to establish an embassy in Skopje.

“Soon, even those who oppose [the deal] will begin to see its positive effects,” said Zaev, who before the visit said he expected new Greek investments in North Macedonia to exceed €500m (Ł430m).

In recognition of the deal, Zaev and Tsipras have been nominated for this year’s Nobel peace prize.

But while insisting that a lot had been achieved in a remarkably short time, Tsipras conceded that the agreement – which gives North Macedonia five years to change its name at home and abroad – would almost certainly “be tested in critical areas as time goes by”.

Among Greek critics’ greatest grievances is the theft of ancient figures, not least the Macedonian hero, Alexander the Great, by the Balkan state.

In a nod to them, Tsipras said that while ancient Greek culture was “universal”, he looked forward to a time when the origins and inspiration behind the plethora of statues and monuments around Skopje was finally made clear.

[Niko777]

New sign on the main government building, ahead of tomorrow's Tsipras visit

[Niko777]

Philip II Arena renamed to Tose Proeski Arena


Source: https://365.com.mk/293145/za-ater-na...-toshe-proeski

[Carlin]

Zaev: I agreed to name change as Tsipras accepted Macedonian identity

In a debate with opposition VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski, Zaev also noted that Tsipras had initially accepted the name Republic of Ilinden Macedonia

URL:

https://www.tovima.gr/2019/03/28/international/zaev-i-agreed-to-name-change-as-tsipras-accepted-macedonian-identity/

North Macedonia’s Prime Minister, Zoran Zaev, has said that he agreed to change his country’s name and Constitution because PM Alexis Tsipras accepted the existence of a Macedonian identity.

In a debate with opposition VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski, Zaev also noted that Tsipras had initially accepted the name Republic of Ilinden Macedonia.

Zaev said that the idea was scrapped due to an uproar among opposition parties in Greece.

Zaev said that the Macedonian language and Macedonian identity are “shining in the UN”.

“The writing of the Macedonian language and of Macedonian identity is shining in the UN where they were registered without asterisks or footnotes. The Macedonian language is the language of the Macedonians in Australia, America, Canada, Switzerland, and Germany, and no one disputes that,” Zaev declared.

“Macedonian is the language of Macedonians all over the world, in the diaspora and in the fatherland. It is the official language that is recognised everywhere. It is part of the identity of the Macedonian people as guaranteed in the Constitution,’ said the PM of North Macedonia.

Zaev fiercely defended the Prespa Agreement on the grounds that it paves the way to the admission of North Macedonia and the EU, while Mickoski argued that the accord harms his country’s national interests.

Despite being pressured by the moderator and Zaev to say whether his party will honour the agreement if it comes to power, the main opposition leader refused to answer.



Zaev manages to make a fool out of DPNE’s Mickoski with a simple question

URL:

https://www.minareport.com/2019/03/28/zaev-manages-to-make-a-fool-out-of-dpnes-mickoski-with-a-simple-question/

During last night’s debate between US Embassy representative Zaev and US Embassy representative Mickoski, it took Zaev 36 seconds to make a fool out of fake patriot Mickoski who earlier used a Macedonian pin to score points with the viewers.

Admittedly, Zaev isn’t able to debate a rock, let alone a human being, however, during the high strangeness of this debate where both the illegal Government and the controlled opposition have the same boss, it was Zaev who put Mickoski into a corner with a simple question: If you come to power, would you nullify the Prespa agreement? Mickoski had no response, his bosses at the Kale are watching.

This 36 seconds clip, Mickoski’s face, the silence… tells you all you need to know what the DPNE is and who they work for.

[Carlin]

China denies Greek company request over use of ‘Macedonian’

URL:

https://english.republika.mk/news/balkans/china-denies-greek-company-request-over-use-of-macedonian/

China denied on February 23 a request by a Greek company over the use of term ‘Macedonian’, elaborating that this requires an approval from the neighboring country, Maria Spyraki, spokesperson of Greek opposition party New Democracy, said at the briefing of political commentators on Monday.

Without disclosing the name of the business, I hereby inform you that we have a rejection from China of a Greek company’s request for the use of the term ”Macedonian” for its products, on the grounds that it cannot be used without the permission of the neighboring country. The rejection is dated February 23, 2019″, said Spyraki, MIA reported.

The New Democracy spokesperson mentioned the example in the context of Tsipras’ visit to Skopje, and commenting on trademarks said that “Greek businesses are already paying the cost of the damaging agreement”.

With the Prespa Agreement, the government has left the issue of trademarks, brands and brand names for our Macedonian products for three years. Greek businesses are already paying the cost of this damaging agreement, Spyraki said.

[Carlin]

Another "provocation".

North Macedonian diplomat calls country Macedonia at EU meeting

North Macedonia’s Ambassador Rusi Popovska referred to Alexis Tsipras’ forthcoming trip to Skopje by saying, “Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is going to visit Macedonia, and it is the first visit of a Greek prime minister to our country.”

ΤοΒΗΜΑ Team
19.03.2019

URL:

https://www.tovima.gr/2019/03/19/international/north-macedonian-diplomat-calls-country-macedonia-at-eu-meeting/

Main opposition New Democracy is up in arms over repeated violations of the terms of the Prespa Agreement by Skopje.

“Before the ink of the signatures on the Prespa Agreement dried, the Ambassador of North Macedonia to the European Unioreferred to her country as “Macedonia” during an official preparatory meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee of the EU and North Macedonia,” said main opposition New Democracy spokesperson Maria Spyraki.

Spyraki said that Ambassador Rusi Popovska referred to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ forthcoming trip to Skopje by saying, “Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is going to visit Macedonia, and it is the first visit of a Greek prime minister to our country.”

The reference constitutes a glaring violation of the Prespa Agreement.

Spyraki, a European Parliament deputy (MEP), said she will submit a question to the European Commission.

North Macedonian MPs are scheduled to meet next week with MEPs in Strasbourg in the framework of the joint parliamentary committee, of which Spyraki is a regular member.

Spyrakis’ question to the European Commission is as follows:

“In the framework of the preparatory meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee of the EU and North Macedonia in Brussels, North Macedonia’s Ambassador, Rusi Popovska, during an exchange of views with members of the committee, repeatedly used the name “Macedonia” in referring to the Republic of North Macedonia, and in particular in the presence of members of the Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations.

“In one instance, she stated verbatim, “Prime Minister Tsipras is expected to visit Macedonia, which will be the first ever bilateral visit of a Greek Prime Minister to our country.

“Taking into account that upon implementation of the Prespa Agreement, the official name of the country for all uses is “Republic of North Macedonia” or “North Macedonia”, one asks the Commission:

Is the use of the term “Macedonia” by official representatives of North Macedonia considered a proper implementation of the Prespa Agreement, particularly in the presence of members of the Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations?”

[Carlin]

YuriB, it may not be too late.

Greece is quite busy running around catching "provocations" and "incidents".

Examples:

http://en.protothema.gr/new-provocation-skopje-advertise-the-2000-year-old-macedonian-wines-as-part-of-their-heritage/

http://en.protothema.gr/skopje-removes-macedonia-from-its-pavilion-at-the-berlin-international-tourism-fair-photos/

PS:

According to the official position of Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Macedonian nation is still a "product" of Tito, the word Macedonia is a "Greek word", the ancient Macedonians are Greeks -- official link here:

https://www.mfa.gr/en/the-question-of-the-name-of-the-republic-of-north/

[YuriB]

MEANWHILE in GREECE...



Photo taken yesterday in Gorno Kleshtino, Lerinsko

Is it too late to add to the deal that Macedonia must also pay for the signs to change in Greece? We are poor you know!

[Risto the Great]

They call it Yugoslavia thatta way and Florina thissa way.

Meanwhile Dumbadonia is renaming their children before the ink has dried.

[Niko777]

MEANWHILE in GREECE...



Photo taken yesterday in Gorno Kleshtino, Lerinsko

[Pelagonija]

Wow.. I’m speechless. Soulless names for a soulless country.