Greek FM warns Skopje to distance from ‘neo-Ottoman’ influence

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias told his Macedonian counterpart Bujar Osmani that a recent bilateral defence deal between Skopje and Ankara has created questions in Athens.

“Short reckonings make long friends,” Dendias said during a visit in Skopje, adding that he received the “necessary clarifications” regarding the deal with Turkey.

The Greek politician explained that North Macedonia has chosen to follow the EU path and that with the name-change deal (Prespa Agreement), Skopje has rejected “anachronistic visions”.

In a clear reference to Turkey, Dendias warned his counterpart that there is an ongoing effort to derail the Western Balkan region from the EU line.

“Others, in our wider region, are propagandising a hopeless return to yesterday’s empires, to areas of neo-Ottoman influence, violating international law, illegally occupying other countries’ territories, trying to divert the Western Balkans from the European route,” Dendias said.

“You have chosen to join the EU. I urge you to continue to implement this choice,” he added.

The Turkey-North Macedonia defence deal caused anger in Athens, with the leftist opposition putting the blame the conservative New Democracy government for not having ratified yet three memoranda as part of the Prespa Agreement.

Particularly, the opposition claimed that a far-right faction within ruling New Democracy party blocks such a ratification fearing electoral losses.  

(Željko Trkanjec | EURACTIV.hr, Sarantis Michyalopoulos | EURACTIV.com)