The United States supports the Prespa Agreement between North Macedonia and Greece and is disappointed that President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova did not use the constitutional name “North Macedonia” during her inauguration. This statement was made on Sunday by Elizabeth Allen, the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs of the State Department, who is currently on a tour of Western Balkan countries.
“Of course, we support the Prespa Agreement, and we were disappointed to see that the president did not use the full and official name North Macedonia. We’ll see what the government does. We are in constant dialogue with the government under formation. Therefore, I would not like to prejudge any consequence here, but, of course, we hope and encourage the new leadership of North Macedonia to abide by international agreements,” Allen told the Skopje website “SDK.”
It is noted that the newly elected President of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, who assumed office on May 12, called the country “Macedonia” during her inauguration. This was in contrast to the text of the oath, dictated by the president of the outgoing Parliament, Jovan Mitreski, which referred to the country as “North Macedonia.”
Siljanovska-Davkova’s action provoked strong reactions from Greece and was disapproved of by the EU, the US, and NATO.
The Prespa Agreement, signed in 2018, resolved a long-standing dispute between Greece and North Macedonia over the latter’s name, paving the way for North Macedonia’s accession to NATO and the EU. The agreement stipulates that the country’s official name is “North Macedonia,” a designation intended to distinguish it from the adjacent Greek region of Macedonia.
Soure: ANA-MPA, Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
