Joint Statement following the proceedings of the first plenary meeting of the International Group of Experts established pursuant to Art. 1, par 3, subpar. (h) of the Prespa Agreement (Skopje, 22.06.2

The International Group of Experts established pursuant to Article 1, paragraph 3, subparagraph (h) of the “Final Agreement for the Settlement of the Differences as described in the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 817 (1993) and 845(1993), the Termination of the Interim Accord of 1995 and the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership between the Parties” done at Prespes on the 17th of June 2018, today in Skopje held its first plenary meeting under the chairmanship of the Head of Delegation of the Hellenic Republic, Prof. Photini Pazartzis and the Head of Delegation of the Republic of North Macedonia, Prof. Gjorgji Filipov.

Taking into account the statements of the previous meetings held in Skopje and in Thessaloniki, the two delegations exchanged views and discussed the Rules of Procedure for the operation of the International Group of Experts.

The co-chairs agreed that the following meeting will be held in Athens, at a date to be fixed following consultations, preferably in the first week of November, 2019.

The IGE encourages the business communities of both countries to commence their dialogue in the spirit of the Prespes Agreement.

Head of the Delegation of the Hellenic Republic

Prof. Dr. Photini Pazartzis

Head of the Delegation of the Republic of North Macedonia

Prof. Dr. Gjorgji Filipov