SKOPJE (Macedonia), July 13 (SeeNews) – Macedonia’s leaders, political parties and citizens should engage constructively in the ratification and implementation of the agreement reached with Greece on the name issue and recognise the benefits that the resolution of this long standing dispute will bring, the Council of the EU said on Friday.
The EU strongly welcomed the signing of the agreement on the name issue and the establishment of strategic partnership with Greece, the Council said in a press release, following the 14th meeting of Stabilisation and Association Council (SA Council) between Macedonia and the European Union. The meeting was attended by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn and Macedonia’s foreign minister Nikola Dimitrov.
The Council recalled that the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) remains at the core of the relationship between the EU and Macedonia until the country’s accession to the EU.
The Council also said it welcomed the entry into force of the treaty on friendship, good-neighbourliness and cooperation with Bulgaria, which set a strong example for others in the region to strengthen good neighbourly relations.
“The SA Council welcomed the EU’s recent setting out of the path towards opening accession negotiations in June 2019 based on continued progress and tangible results, maintaining and deepening the current reform momentum,” the statement noted.
Macedonia has overcome its deep political crisis and the significant steps the government has taken to gradually restore a culture of compromise by reaching out to all stakeholders, including the opposition, to strengthen democracy and rule of law and the genuine desire to reform in an inclusive and transparent manner, the Council noted.
“Regarding economic developments, the SA Council recalled the targeted policy guidance agreed in May 2018 between the EU and Western Balkans and Turkey, on the Economic Reform Programmes, and encouraged the government to focus on their implementation and follow-up.”
Last week, Macedonia's parliament ratified in a second vote the agreement with Greece to resolve the 27-year old dispute between the two neighouring countries by changing the name of the former Yugoslav republic to North Macedonia.
The Macedonian parliament ratified the agreement for the first time on June 20. However, Macedonian president Gjorge Ivanov refused to sign it into law, saying it runs against the Constitution and its ratification was not carried out in accordance with the constitution.
In order for the agreement to enter into force, it must also be ratified by the Greek parliament. In addition, Macedonia will also hold a referendum on the deal in the autumn of 2018, Macedonian prime minister Zoran Zaev said in June.
The deal was signed on June 17 by the foreign ministers of Macedonia and Greece Nikola Dimitrov and Nikos Kotzias, paving the way for the former Yugoslav republic to join NATO and the European Union under its new name of North Macedonia. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Zaev, Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras and senior representatives of the European Commission.
On Wednesday, NATO decided to officially invite Macedonia to start accession talks.
Athens has blocked Macedonia’s attempts to join NATO and the EU over the country's name, which according to Greece allegedly implies territorial clams on the Greek northernmost province of the same name.