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European Western Balkans
Politics

Deal signed, Macedonia and Greece close 27-year name dispute

Alexis Tsipras, Zoran Zaev, Nikos Kotzias and Nikola Dimitrov; Photo: Tanjug / AP Photo / Yorgos Karahalis

PRESPA – The foreign ministers of Macedonia and Greece, Nikola Dimitrov and Nikos Kotzias respectively, on Sunday signed the final agreement for the settling of the name dispute and the establishment of a strategic partnership at a ceremony attended by the countries’ premiers Zoran Zaev and Alexis Tsipras, MIA reports.

Under the deal, the country will be renamed into Republic of North Macedonia used both internally and internationally.

The formal ceremony in the small village of Psarades on the Greek territory of Lake Prespa, was attended by high officials of the international community, UN name envoy Matthew Nimetz, who has been involved in the settling the differences over the name for most of his diplomatic career.

Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs is also attending, as well as Federica Mogherini, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn.

Matthew Nimetz, Federica Mogherini, Johannes Hahn, Zoran Zaev, Alexis Tsipras, Nikola Dimitrov, Johannes Hahn, Nikos Kotzias, Photo: Tanjug / AP Photo / Yorgos Karahalis

The formal ceremony in the small village of Psarades on the Greek territory of Lake Prespa, was attended by high officials of the international community, UN name envoy Matthew Nimetz, who has been involved in the settling the differences over the name for most of his diplomatic career.

The event took place amid heightened security measures, which has also been widely covered by media outlets, both local and international.

After the signing, the two delegations will hold an official meeting on the Macedonian side of the region Prespa, in Otesevo, which involves bilateral talks and a formal lunch.

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