Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Sia Anagnostopoulou spoke on Euronews before Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ first formal visit to North Macedonia, following signing of the Prespa Agreement. Ms Anagnostopoulou stressed, among other things, that: “This culture of understanding and mutual trust which can be seen in the Prespa Agreement materialises in practice. This is because the agreements that will be concluded are to the mutual benefit of both peoples. It is of great importance, because we see that this was the wish of the local communities which now, thanks to the Prespa Agreement, are involved in the larger picture.”
Referring to the issue of commercial designations, the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs commented: “We are well aware that companies of North Macedonia were using the trade name “Macedonian” etc. up to the signing of the Prespa Agreement, but mainly they indicated that they originate from the “Republic of Macedonia”, as was its constitutional name at the time. For example, there was quite a buzz about China. Yet, nobody is aware that, since 2000, at least up to the signing of the Prespa Agreement, at least 10 Greek companies were unable to obtain the commercial designation “Macedonian” since, of course, there was no agreement between the two countries.”
April 1, 2019