European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, EU High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn issued a joint statement welcoming the ratification of the Prespes Agreement by the Greek Parliament.
“We warmly welcome the next crucial step in the ratification of the Prespa agreement, taken with today’s vote by the Hellenic Parliament,” the EU statement said adding:
“From the very beginning, the European Union has strongly supported the historic agreement signed by Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev, following negotiations under the auspices of the UN. It took political courage, leadership and responsibility on all sides to resolve one of the most entrenched disputes in the region. Both countries have seized this unique opportunity which sets an example of reconciliation for Europe as a whole and will give a further boost to the European perspective of the region.
“While we look forward to the next procedural steps leading towards the full implementation of the agreement, we can already say with confidence today that Athens and Skopje have, together, written a new page of our common EU future.”
European Council Donald Tusk tweeted in English and Greek:
They had imagination, they took the risk, they were ready to sacrifice their own interests for the greater good. Zoran, Alexis – well done! Mission impossible accomplished. #PrespaAgreement@Zoran_Zaev @tsipras_eu
— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) January 25, 2019
Είχαν φαντασία, ανέλαβαν το ρίσκο, δεν δίστασαν να θυσιάσουν τα συμφέροντά τους για το κοινό καλό. Αλέξη, Ζόραν – μπράβο! Πετύχατε το ακατόρθωτο. #PrespaAgreement@atsipras @Zoran_Zaev
— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) January 25, 2019
The ratification was also welcomed by Germany, Austria and leaders of other countries.
Many of the EU leaders are ideological buddies of New Democracy which is also a member of the conservative European People’s Party (EPP) in the European Parliament. They may be surprised to find out that leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis will block the accession of “North Macedonia” to EU.
“I made a commitment to firmly adhere to national duty: I will not give up Greece’s right to veto Skopje’s accession to the EU, I will fight will all my strength to lessen the negative repercussions that are certain to result from a problematic agreement,” Mitsotakis said after the ratification whihc he described as “a sad day for Greece.”
The agreement was the only way to lift of the 26-year-old Greek veto was a precondition for the accession of FYROM to EU and the NATO.
Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg also hailed the ratification:
I welcome today’s ratification in the Greek parliament of the #Prespaagreement, an important contribution to the stability and prosperity of the whole region. I look forward to the future Republic of North Macedonia joining #NATO.
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) January 25, 2019
PS Now that Greece did its European duty – even at a high political cost -, its high time for the EU to start talking about debt relief. In diplomacy, we call it “reciprocity.” 🙂
