Prespa Agreement violates highest international legal acts
New analysis by Macedonian Professor Igor Janev against the messages of the leaders of the international community. The Prespa Agreement violates human rights and freedoms, but also democratic rights and principles. According to the analysis of prominent experts and lawyers, this agreement is in complete contradiction to a number of the highest international legal acts, including charters, declarations and resolutions of the United Nations, UNESCO, the Vienna Convention, etc. In other words, the Prespa Agreement is the most glaring example o…
Zaev: Greece can rely on Macedonia
Macedonia’s visiting Prime Minister Zoran Zaev assured Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou on Wednesday that Greece can rely on Macedonia, grekk newspaper Ekathimerini reports. As Ekathimerini writes: "The visit to Athens, the first for the Macedonia primeminister, was to symbolize the end of a “cold war” between the two Balkan neighbors over their decades-long name dispute." Zaev, who combined his visit with his attendance of the Economist Conference, is reportedly in line with the European stance toward Ankara regarding the r…
Macedonia wants to support Ukraine with NATO and EU integration
During a telephone conversation, the newly appointed Macedonian Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani assured the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, that he would support Ukraine's integration into NATO and the EU - reported the German-speaking Ukrainian medium "Ukrinform", citing the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine. The Foreign Minister of Ukraine is said to have congratulated the Foreign Minister on his election as head of the Ministry. “ Dmytro Kuleba expressed the hope that North Macedonia would support the …
Albania to open general consulate in Struga
The Council of Ministers of Albania has decided to open a 'Consulate General' in the town of Struga, located in the southwestern region of Macedonia on the shores of the well known Ohrid lake. The decision was announced on Tuesday via a Facebook post. The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj called the news “fantastic” for Albania and Albanians.
Deadlock: European leaders block EU-entry talks with Macedonia and Albania
European leaders are engaged in discussions over whether to allow Macedonia and Albania to open EU accession talks. French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly stands opposed to accession talks until his request for a serious reform and deepening of the EU, as well as changes to the enlargement process, are accepted. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that his country is opposed to accession talks for Albania, but would leave some room for opening talks with Macedonia – the decoupling option, which is also supported by Spain and Den…
US Department of State: We urge leaders in Macedonia to rise above partisan politics
We urge leaders in the Macedonian parliament to rise above partisan politics and seize this historic opportunity to secure a brighter future for the country, US State Department official told Greece’s state-run news agency ANA-MPA. In regard to the resignation of the Greece’s FM Nikos Kotzias, the US State Department thanked Greek official for his dedicated service to improving Greek-US relations and for his role in achieving the historic Prespa Agreement, MIA reports from Athens. “ The US strongly supports the agreement’s full im…
Fourth ministerial meeting in Thessaloniki with Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece and Albania
The foreign Affairs’ ministers of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania and host Greece, at the start of November will hold a new quadrilateral meeting in Thessaloniki. According to the information provided by MIA’s correspondent in Athens, the fourth ministerial meeting during which it is planned a discussion about subjects on regional cooperation in many areas, will be held on the 8th and the 9th of November in Thessaloniki. A first meeting such as this was first organized in April 2016, and the last time the heads of diplomacies have me…
USA and Macedonia Participate in Cyber Defense Cooperation
Press release from U.S. Cyber Command: U.S. service members, working alongside cyber defenders from the Republic of Macedonia, have been cooperating over the last few weeks to share best practices in cyber security and to build cyber defense capabilities. U.S. Cyber Command, in cooperation with U.S. European Command, has worked closely with partners from Macedonia in conducting Cyber Defense Security Cooperation to increase interoperability and deter malign influence on the democratic processes of the U.S., our allies and our partne…
Prespa Agreement – historic opportunity for Macedonia, Chancellor Merkel tells PM Zaev
The Prespa Agreement offers a historic opportunity for Macedonia and for strengthening the good-neighborly relations, German Chancellor Angela Merkel says in a letter to Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. ‘On 30 September a vast majority - over 90 percent - of those who took part in the referendum voted ‘FOR’ the agreement with Greece. The agreement offers an opportunity for a historic deal and for strengthening the relations between the two countries. It also eliminates the key obstacle for the country’s accession to the European Union and N…
Germany believes that Macedonia deserves recognition from the entire EU
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas at a press conference with Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov in Berlin said Germany supports the agreement reached between Macedonia and Greece, which he considers a solution achieved through a common understanding that will bring change among the citizens. He said that the EU and NATO decisions will be a very important signal and stressed that what Macedonia has achieved in meeting the criteria and the reform process really impresses and deserves recognition from the entire EU. “ This solution is…
Euractiv: Orbán hails attempts to derail solution to Macedonian name dispute
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was quoted on Monday by European news portal Euroactiv supporting the efforts of Macedonia’s main opposition party to block a solution to the long-standing name dispute with Greece during the party's Skopje meeting on June 2. In a video message, Orbán hailed the party’s "wise and courageous leaders... who won’t bend under pressure from foreign powers". Euractiv notes that Orbán's messages are contrary to those of other Democratic Christian leaders, such as Elmar Brok, a close all…
'Ball is in Macedonia’s court' says Greece
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos announced on Sunday it is up to Macedonia to make the next move in the ongoing negotiations aiming to resolve the naming dispute. “ The Greek government is waiting for Mr. Zaev to make the decisive step to reach an agreement. The ball is in their court ,” he told TV station Kontra channel. Tzanakopoulos said he cannot anticipate when the Prime Ministers of the two countries, Alexis Tsipras and Zaev, will speak on the phone, an indication that talks are moving into their final stage…
FM Dimitrov meets a delegation of Konrad Adenauer Foundation
Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov and a delegation of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation held talks Wednesday in Skopje on the integration of Western Balkan countries, including Macedonia, with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Dimitrov labeled the Western Balkans’ integration with and contribution to the EU's CFSP as vital for joint fight against present security threats, as well as for supporting the EU’s foreign policy. He also briefed the guests about Macedonia’s activities to that effect, notifying that the cou…
Nimetz: No final solution yet, both parties determined to work until reaching an agreement
There is no a final solution yet to Macedonia-Greece name dispute, but both parties are committed to continue the negotiations until they come to an agreement, UN mediator Matthew Nimetz said Friday in New York after two-day talks with the Foreign Ministers, Nikola Dimitrov and Nikos Kotzias. ‘ We had meetings yesterday and today, one and a half days of talks. What I can say is that the issues are well defined. We do not have a final solution to the issues, but both sides are determined to do enough to reach an agreement and work har…
Bosnjakovski : Zaev-Tsipras meeting a step toward final name row settlement
Government spokesman Mile Bosnjakovski asked to comment on the expectations of the government and the likelihood the premiers of Macedonia and Greece to close the name issue at their meeting tomorrow in Sofia, said it is crucial step toward a final solution. “ Regarding tomorrow’s meeting of the PMs, Zoran Zaev and Alexis Tsipras, yesterday Zaev said it was way too early to be expecting something like that. but I believe that this meeting is a step toward a final solution ,” the spokesman told a news conference on Wednesday. Answe…
Macedonia and Bulgaria to pay their respects to St. Cyril in Rome
To honor St. Cyril, PM Zoran Zaev will head a delegation of government officials and representatives of the Macedonian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in Macedonia to pay an official visit to the Republic of Italia and the Holy See on May 24 and 25. PM Zaev and the Macedonian delegation will pay their respects by laying wreaths at St. Cyril's tomb in the Basilica of Saint Clement together with a Bulgarian government delegation. Later in the day, the Macedonian delegation will lay a wreath at the St. Cyril and Met…
Ivanov: Turkey Respects Our Constitutional Name And The Court Of Hague
It is our responsibility to prepare those who come after us to be moral and ethical leaders with character, integrity, humility, focus on people, responsibility and passion. Not to be afraid of the unknown, but bravely and wisely to face the challenges, President Gjorge Ivanov said at today's Global Leadership Forum, which takes place at the University of Bahçeshehir in Istanbul. . "Instead of figuring out problems, we need to offer creative solutions," Ivanov said and put forward several proposals that would improve…
Greek FM Kotzias on fresh round of name talks
Once we come to an agreement and it is legally ratified, the way for (Skopje) to commence the EU accession talks will open, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias told a press conference Friday in regard to a meeting with his Macedonia counterpart Nikola Dimitrov and UN mediator Matthew Nimetz, scheduled for Saturday in Sounio. ‘ After the talks in Thessaloniki, tomorrow at 10.30 we will hold the next round of negotiations. If we (both sides) really want from the bottom of our hearts, we will end up with a problem which should not be pe…
Kotzias invites Dimitrov to the Visegrad Group meeting near Athens
Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov, at the invitation of his Greek counterpart, Nikos Kotzias, takes part in a second meeting, in an extended composition of foreign ministers of the Balkans and the Visegrad Group in the so-called “Visegrad-4 Plus Balkan-4 Plus” format, which takes place on May 10 and 11, in Sunni, near Athens, informs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). “ In addition to the standard format from last year in Budapest, where the foreign ministers of the four EU member states from the Balkans took part – Gree…
Macedonia, UNFPA sign agreement to improve maternal and newborn health in Macedonia
Macedonia Health Minister Venko Filipce and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Director Doina Bologa signed on Thursday an agreement on joint implementation of measures for the improvement of maternal and newborn health and reduction of mortality ratio. According to Filipce, the agreement foresees a fund of 5 million Macedonian Denar (around 97,000 U.S. dollars), of which half of the funds are provided by the Macedonian government and half by UNFPA. " This agreement aims the implementation of several activities by the end…
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