The much anticipated phone call by FYROM Prime Minister, Zoran Zaef, to his Greek counterpart, Alexis Tsipras, over the Macedonia agreement took place at 3 p.m. on Monday. No further details about the content of the conversation have been revealed, except that the phone call was in a “positive atmosphere,” as Tsirpas’ office said in a press release.
The two leader spoke on the phone for one hour and are expected to talk with each other again on Tuesday morning, media report.
The phone call was much anticipated by the Greek side, as it would hint that Zaef had accepted the Greek terms for a solution to Macedonia name dispute.
The phone call was supposed to have taken place some ten days ago, when the foreign ministers of Greece and FYROM had concluded the negotiations. But apparently Zaef was under pressure in his won country and needed time to overcome the obstacles.
Foreign Minister, Nikos Kotzias, said earlier on Monday that Zaef would call Tsipras today.
The crucial phone call triggered turbulence in the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition and Tsipras’ junior partner and Defense Minister, Panos Kammenos, called for an extraordinary press conference on Tuesday morning.
The press will take place in the headquarters of ANEL (Independent Greeks) a fact hinting that Kammenos will reveal his position on the Macedonia agreement.
ANEL have repeatedly stressed that they will not accept the term “Macedonia” in the composite name of FYROM.
PS Kammenos won’t bring down the Greek government, will he?
