Skopje, 18 July 2024 (MIA) — There was almost no interest in discussing the Prespa Agreement at the NATO Summit in Washington, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski in a TV appearance on Thursday evening.

Asked if any attempts had been made to meet with the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Washington, he said neither side had initiated any meetings.

"Of course, the two countries' prime ministers will have to meet in the future," FM Mucunski said.

"We are neighbors, neighbors who should cooperate, who should have many plans to address challenges regarding the economy, trade, opening of new border crossings," he said.

In the interview for Kanal 5, Mucunski said the new government was honoring the Prespa Agreement.

"Although we have made it clear that we think this agreement was problematic when it was created, we absolutely believe in the principle that agreements have to be honored," he said.

"And we believe that we are honoring the provisions of the Prespa Agreement," he added.

"When the other side doesn't think so, there are mechanisms they can activate within the agreement itself, but at the same time, they have the opportunity to initiate talks," Mucunski said.

He said he had recently spoken with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis about the wildfires raging in both countries. "We pointed out that we should help each other in such situations," Mucunski said.

He said all challenges had to be resolved, both with Greece and Bulgaria, through "cool-headed" dialogue.

Asked if he thought Mitsotakis would change his mind, Mucunski said both countries should support each other in their further development.

"Let's support each other in good trade relations and discuss topics such as the new border crossings we should open. Let's talk about the excellent relations we have had in recent years in the field of culture and education," he said.

"These are topics we can find a common language on, and this challenge that we have regarding our different interpretation of Prespa Agreement, I truly believe we can overcome it if we all look ahead to the future and not turn back to the past," Mucunski said, adding that the challenge would be overcome "if the other side honestly wants to overcome it."

"Now, if the other side wants to problematize bilateral relations while we say, 'Yes, no matter how bad we think it is, we have an obligation in terms of the international legal order to honor it,' then what more can we do?," the foreign minister said.

"He [Mitsotakis] says, 'We want confirmation from the other side that the constitutional name of the state is the Republic of North Macedonia.' Now, as much as I dislike it and I think it is offensive, I agree. We are aware, we are absolutely aware, that the constitutional name of the country is the Republic of North Macedonia. 

"But, at the same time, let's not forget that in the agreement itself there are articles that regulate how the terms 'Macedonia' and 'Macedonian" may be used and that those terms have different meanings when said by one side and when said by the other," Minister Mucunski stressed. mr/