Athens, 1 December 2024 (MIA) — Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in an interview with Greece's Antenna TV said he hoped North Macedonia would realize it was not in its best interest to insist on a position that was creating problems with its largest neighbor, who was a major investor in the country and who it expected support from on its EU path. He also again asked from the country's government to take a clear stance of honoring the Prespa Agreement, MIA's Athens correspondent reports.

According to Mitsotakis, in the Balkans, "unfortunately, there are still forces that believe they will score political points by stirring up the old ghosts of Balkan nationalism."

He added that this "has largely happened with the current government of North Macedonia, both before the elections and, to some extent, after."

Reiterating New Democracy's positions on the Prespa Agreement before his party came to power, Mitsotakis once again pointed out that "the name of the country is North Macedonia and that is not open to debate, regardless of whether it is used outside or inside the country."

"North Macedonia cannot escape this prediction," MIA's correspondent quotes Mitsotakis as saying in the interview. 

"I see that over the last two months the government has understood this to some extent. What I expect — and it is not only myself because this issue is not bilateral, it concerns Europe and to some extent it also concerns NATO — is a very clear statement by the state and political leadership that the Prespa Agreement is completely honored and that the name of the country is North Macedonia, regardless of whether they use it outside the country or inside the country. I believe that we are moving in the right direction," Mitsotakis said.

Asked whether Greece should be more vocal in "informing its allies about North Macedonia's position," Mitsotakis briefly replied that they had already done so.

The Antenna interview took place in Thessaloniki after the official opening of its subway, and Mitsotakis spoke about topics related to both foreign and domestic policy. mr/