Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Friday touted what he called his government’s handling of the migrant/refugee crisis, which erupted in the eastern Aegean in 2015, as well as its steps to boost regional stability and security, pointing particularly to an agreement with the neighboring former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYRoM) to finally solve the long-standing “name issue”.
Speaking before the 73rd UN general assembly, Tsipras said the “Prespa Agreement” is not only significant for the region, but can serve as a model to solve other such bilateral differences.
He said the agreement did not arise from the imposition of the stronger of the two parties’ will or interests, but through a mutually acceptable solution, one that defends the dignity of both sides, i.e. Athens and Skopje.
The agreement will face a referendum in the neighboring country on Sunday, which if successful must be followed by constitutional revisions.
Greece’s parliament must also ratify the agreement.
