Greece has accused North Macedonia of breaking the historic name deal and warned that this could harm the neighbouring nation’s aim of joining the European Union.

According to Associated Press, Athens was responding a day after North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski repeatedly used the old name, Macedonia, saying he found his country’s new name, under the agreement, “shameful”.

In 2018, the two countries signed a deal that declared Macedonia as the name of one of Greece’s regions.

This ended a decades-long debacle over history and cultural heritage, and saw the adoption of the new name North Macedonia.

The agreement also allowed North Macedonia to join NATO.

Giorgos Gerapetritis, Greece’s Minister for Foreign Affairs has called out North Macedonia’s leaders’ over their decision to not use the country’s constitutional name domestically, claiming it violates the Prespa Agreement.

The Greek politician raised the issue with the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday (Tuesday AEST), as reported by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA).

Gerapetritis argued that the decision of the new state and political leadership of North Macedonia to not “use in domestic public statements the country’s constitutional name” systematically and persistently is a “flagrant violation of the Prespa Agreement”.

He elaborated that the agreement stipulates for the “uniform use of the name ‘North Macedonia’ both domestically and abroad”, adding that:

“Compliance to international law and international agreements constitutes the foundation of international peace and security, and its selective application is not acceptable.”

The Minister for Foreign Affairs then stressed that the “path towards European accession is not possible without the full implementation of the European acquis and with full and unconditional compliance to international law and international agreements”.

Gerapetritis also made reference to the Cyprus Republic, saying “we stand by the side of Cyprus, which is now being threatened brutally and cynically”.

The Council’s agenda covered various topics, including the crisis in Gaza and the war in Ukraine, the developments in Georgia and the deterioration of the security situation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

With AMNA and AP