Greece–Republic of Macedonia relations

Lavrov claims that these countries will have to spend additional money on purchases of US weapons in the future, which, he said, "nobody will like."

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar's visit to Skopje on Wednesday, just a day after Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was there with a large entourage of ministers and businessmen, is seen in Greece as an indication of Turkey's growing concern over Athens's new role in North Macedonia after the ratification of the Prespes agreement. 

North Macedonia Prime Minister Zoran Zaev (l) and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (r) pose for a selfie during the welcome ceremony in front of the Government building in Skopje, capital of North Macedonia, Tuesday.  [EPA]

Regardless of what one thinks about the name deal signed and ratified earlier this year by the Greek government and North Macedonia, the so-called Prespes agreement has left a number of serious issues unresolved.

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.

One of the features of the Prespes agreement (a remarkable document, because both sides had been willing to accept some things that they would have fought bitterly against in the past) was that the language of the Republic of North Macedonia would be recognized as an official language, called "Macedonian."

Transparency advocates in North Macedonia fear the country's secretive political parties will be able to use OSCE recommendations to evade pressure to reveal their finances.

Election authorities in North Macedonia say three people, including a law professor who is the country's first female candidate, will run for president of the newly renamed country in April 21 elections.

Amid reactions in Greece over frequent references made in North Macedonia to a Macedonian language, the neighboring country's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said on Wednesday that the name of the language was accepted in the Prespes agreement, which was ratified this year by the two parliaments.

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