For a “provocative report” by the new president of North Macedonia, but also for “grave responsibilities” of the government, SYRIZA speaks in a statement.

The announcement of SYRIZA in more detail:

“SYRIZA – PS expresses its strong protest against the provocative report of the new President of the Republic of North Macedonia, which was a flagrant violation of the Prespa Agreement, and calls on the Mitsotakis government to finally abandon the micropolitical management of foreign policy and to to the appropriate actions.

Unfortunately, in just five years of government, Mr. Mitsotakis, with his opaque and irresponsible policy, managed to significantly shrink the geopolitical footprint and role of our country in the Western Balkans, which SYRIZA built with so much effort – PS the space 2015-2019, in order to caress the ears of far-right audiences. The same of course also applies to the ND’s sister party in the EPP, VMRO-DPMNE, which has indulged in a raging crescendo of cheap populism, treating international law almost like an embarrassing situation that it can overcome.

We call on the Mitsotakis government to abandon its passive attitude and to face immediately, with rigor, on the basis of the provisions of the Agreement and by mobilizing all available diplomatic instruments at the international and European level, any use of terms or actions by the new President and the members of the new Government of North Macedonia are violating the Prespa Agreement – especially its constitutional name.

This new diplomatic failure of the country bears the signature of the Mitsotakis government. What did Kyriakos Mitsotakis do to prevent us from reaching this point? Nothing at all, but petty political communication. Neither the Memoranda were brought for ratification, nor was the Supreme Cooperation Council ever convened – despite the provision for one per year – which would lead to the conclusion of dozens of new agreements, thus strengthening the influence of our country. At the same time, the government did not exert pressure to ensure that North Macedonia would implement its obligations for school books, trademarks, passports and car plates. All she did over the years was to avoid any active involvement with the Accord in order to maintain her internal party balances.

The Government bears heavy responsibility for the small-party and communicative logic with which it manages the country’s relations with all our neighboring countries, including North Macedonia, as it chose to damage national interests in order not to damage its party interests.”