Skopje ups ante, widening rift with Athens

The rift between Athens and Skopje is deepening, with North Macedonian Prime Minister-elect Hristijan Mickoski stating he will refrain from verbally using the country's constitutional name - i.e without the affixed geographical designation of North - in violation of the Prespa Agreement.

He even called on Athens to appeal to the International Court of Justice if it believes the Prespa Agreement is not being respected. 

Mickoski, the president of nationalist VMRO-DPMNE, stressed that his party as a government will use the constitutional name in communication within and between institutions, but in statements or speeches will keep its "individual right" to use the terms "Macedonia and Macedonian." 

Moreover, referring to the Greek government, he said "neither we nor they like this agreement" and expressed his expectation to meet Mitsotakis.

Ruling New...