In the village of Psarades (Nivitsi) on the Greek side of the Prespa Lake, Foreign Ministers of Macedonia and Greece, Nikola Dimitrov and Nikos Kotzias, signed the “Final Agreement in resolving the differences described in resolutions 817 (1993) and 845 (1993) by the United Nations Security Council, for the termination of the validity of the Interim Accord of 1995 and establishing a strategic partnership between the parties.”
The document was signed by the foreign ministers of the two countries, while the two prime ministers, Zoran Zaev and Alexis Tsipras, stood behind them during the signing of the new agreement. The agreement states the new name for the Republic of Macedonia, which will be used ‘erga omnes’, i.e the name will be used both in the country and outside. The official language of the country remains Macedonian, while citizenship will be “Macedonian / citizen of the Republic of Northern Macedonia”. The agreement was also signed by UN mediator Matthew Nimetz on the occasion of his birthday.
The ceremony was also attended by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn and United Nations Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo.
“What a beautiful, glorious and historic day”, said Zaev, who in the first part of his speech spoke of Aristotle, saying a person with a strong will can move mountains, which, as he pointed out, is happening today.
Before congratulating everyone after signing the agreement, he took his tie from his neck and gave it to his Greek counterpart.
Today’s event continue with a joint lunch on Macedonian territory, in Oteshevo.
