MFA of North Macedonia: The Prespa Agreement Allows the use of the Term “Macedonia”

Hours after North Macedonia and Christian Mickoski appeared to violate the Prespa Agreement at the NATO summit, the foreign minister of the neighboring country readdressed the issue, arguing that the use of the term “Macedonia” is permissible.

The use of the term “Macedonia” by the country’s new leadership does not violate the Prespa Agreement, claimed North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Timcho Muczunski. He also stated that the use of this term is not an attempt to introduce a “double name” within the country.

“It is not a double formula. As a party, we have expressed our position on the Prespa Agreement. From a political point of view, speaking on behalf of the VMRO-DPMNE party, we have stated that this is a shameful and undignified act. At the same time, however, we are aware of the constitutional, legal, and political reality that accompanies this agreement, as well as the obligations undertaken by the state in terms of public international law. We cannot simply ignore these obligations. That is why we have stated that, yes, this is an undignified agreement, but it is an agreement that we have an obligation to respect. Therefore, we take all necessary measures to comply with it. The fact that the prime minister states that he will use the term Macedonia in public speeches within the country does not constitute a violation of the agreement. This is our interpretation of the agreement. Article 7 clearly states that both parties may use both the term Macedonia and the term Macedonian,” explained Muczunski, clarifying that these terms have different meanings for each party. “In this regard, we recognize that we have obligations, which we intend to respect and demonstrate in practice that we respect them, both at home and abroad. This is the use erga omnes we are talking about,” argued the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Timcho Muczunski, in an interview with “Voice of America.”

These days, Muczunski is accompanying the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Christian Mickoski, on his visit to Washington for the NATO Summit.

Moreover, Christian Mickoski, in today’s announcement by the country’s government, regarding the meetings he had in Washington, repeatedly calls the country “Macedonia.”

“I can say that I sent several messages, the most important of which is that the region and Macedonia as a country have long been hostages of the past. We must focus on the future and what will come in the future. Let’s make Macedonia proud again, but also make the Balkans proud again. Let’s become good neighbors, understand each other, and cooperate. This is what the citizens expect from us, and this is what I will focus on as prime minister in the coming years,” Mickoski says.

“Furthermore, I would like to say that the second message I sent is that the era of servitude has passed, the era of corrupt politicians coming from Macedonia and politicians who are ready, in the name of protecting their corruption and crime, to do everything. To sign everything, to accept every humiliating offer that will be placed on the table just to protect their crime,” adds Mickoski.

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