Athens, 18 May 2024 (MIA) - Let me again send a warning to the new government to change its position and use name North Macedonia in and out of the country, because it will otherwise create problems in relations with Greece and Europe, says Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and adds they would not ratify the memoranda while the country would have no progress on the EU path, MIA reports from Athens.

PM Mitsotakis told ERT the statements of VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski came in the capacity of PM-designate and says they will wait on the official position of the new government.

"The core of the Prespa Agreement is erga omnes, the name North Macedonia for all uses, both inside and outside the country" says Mitsotakis.

He recalled that his party New Democracy did not vote for the Prespa Agreement due to the fact that it confirmed validated the Macedonian nation and Macedonian language.

"There is a clear backtracking and I would warn the new government to change its line and respect the central provision of the Prespa Agreement, use the name North Macedonia in and out of the country. Otherwise, they will create problems, not only in bilateral relations but also in relations with Europe," says Mitsotakis.

He reiterated the Greek government's next steps, saying the cooperation memoranda would not be ratified.

"These actions fully justify our position to delay the memoranda ratification. We have been monitoring developments in North Macedonia for a while, we knew that VMRO-DPMNE would win the elections and we wanted to keep some negotiating leverage in case things do not develop as expected," says Mitsotakis.

The second thing we did, he adds, is that we made it clear there will be no progress on North Macedonia's EU path if the Prespa Agreement is not implemented.