V. Vegiri
[email protected]
The business community in northern Greece appeared divided this week over an upcoming visit to neighboring and recently renamed North Macedonia by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, whose government negotiated, signed and ratified the Prespa agreement to resolve the long-standing “name issue” between Athens and Skopje.
Some 35 companies that are members of the Federation of Industries of Greece – which itself was recently remained from the Federation of Northern Greece Industries – will participate in a business delegation that will accompany Tsipras to Skopje on April 2.
Conversely, the leadership of the Thessaloniki-based Greek Exporters Association (SEVE) appears negative over the Skopje business mission, and in general, against the Prespa agreement, which led to the neighboring country being renamed “Republic of Macedonia”.
SEVE president Giorgos Konstantopoulos’ negative stance to the Tsipras government’s call for participation in the business mission is also shared by the region’s Thessaloniki Chamber of Handicrafts, the Thessaloniki Chamber of Tradesmen and the Commercial Association of Thessaloniki.
Moreover, in a direct snub to Tsipras and his poll-trailing SYRIZA government, SEVE on Friday – a day after the Greek prime minister’s visit to Thessaloniki – is organizing a working meeting to discuss issues emanating from the Prespa agreement on the logos and brand names of Greek companies that contain the word “Macedonia” or its derivatives. Even more noteworthy is the fact that main opposition New Democracy (ND) Kyriakos Mitsotakis will participate in the meeting.
