Member states of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie

The only ethnic Albanian candidate for the presidency in North Macedonia elections will not win the election - but may well affect the plans of the main contenders.

Greece's leftist administration is expected to table a measure on primary residence protection to succeed the so-called Katseli law on Friday on the basis of an agreement between the government and banks, government sources told state-run Athens-Macedonian news agency (ANA-MPA) on Wednesday.

"Is this a democratic way to solve a problem?" Russia's Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov remarked on the name deal between Greece and North Macedonia during an interview with Kathimerini on the sidelines of the Delphi Economic Forum earlier this month.

Russia recognizes the Republic of North Macedonia as the country's new official name, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday, despite having previously expressed reservations about the legitimacy of the name change.
 

Greek Parliament Speaker Nikos Voutsis urged Greece and North Macedonia Friday to speed up the implementation of all provisions included in the name deal signed between the two Balkan neighbors as a way of resolving any reasonable objections to the so-called Prespes accord.

North Macedonia's MIA state news agency has denied reports in the Greek press that caused an uproar in Greece about a culture ministry plan to exchange the famed Dromeas (runner) sculpture of Kostas Varotsos for an statue of Alexander the Great from North Macedonia.

The statue currently stands near the Hilton hotel in central Athens and is known internationally.

President Prokopis Pavlopoulos while on an official visit to Montenegro outlined Greece's views on ties with its Balkan neighbours and Ankara and reiterated that Athens steadfastly supports and promotes the EU course of the Western Balkans.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Friday that the desire for dialogue and peaceful coexistence had prevailed over the forces of nationalism in Greece and North Macedonia, while hailing the name deal reached between the two neighboring countries as a "diplomatic masterpiece."

Greece's former foreign policy chief, Nikos Kotzias, is reportedly scheduled to meet with North Macedonia Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov on Friday, according to reports.

Speaking to Kathimerini ahead of his arrival in the country for the Delphi Economic Forum - which started on Thursday and ends on Sunday - Robert Kaplan does not hide his admiration for the resilience of democracy in Greece in the face of great pressure during the crisis.