Zaev Says Greece Is North Macedonia’s Strategic Partner

North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has assured Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou that Greece can rely on North Macedonia.

Wednesday’s visit to Athens, the first for the North Macedonia PM, was to symbolize the end of a “cold war” between the two Balkan neighbors over their decades-long name dispute, said ekathimerini.com on Thursday.

Zaev, who combined his visit with his attendance of the Economist Conference, is reportedly in line with the European stance toward Ankara regarding the recent escalation between Greece and Turkey over maritime rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Sakellaropoulou reaffirmed Greek support for the European course of North Macedonia, while also emphasizing that the Prespa Agreement must be implemented in its entirety to further deepen bilateral relations. Stressing his commitment to the deal, Zaev said Greece is a strategic partner.

PM of North Macedonia also discussed bilateral ties and economic cooperation with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mistotakis during a dinner hosted in his honor.

The two officials also focused on North Macedonia’s European perspective, while Zaev reiterated his government’s commitment to the “good implementation” of the Prespa Agreement.

In the.meantime SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras met with North Macedonia Prime Minister Zoran Zaev at his office in parliament on Wednesday.

The main opposition party leader told his former counterpart he was pleased to see him in Athens as the neighboring country’s re-elected prime minister, according to nationalherald.com on Thursday.

Zaev said that it was “a dream come true” to come to Athens after the signing of the Prespa Agreement, to discuss matters relating to “business, economy and various collaborations.”

Tsipras told Zaev that “I am also happy that my country continues to support your country and the Prespes Agreement, despite the fact that Greece’s ruling party stood against it when it was an opposition party.”