The decision to take over the Foreign Ministry portfolio myself marks my “determination to do whatever possible to guarantee the successful completion of the historic Prespa agreement,” Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said, following the resignation of foreign minister Nikos Kotzias.
Kotzias had led the Greek side negotiations for the FYROM name change which was signed in June.
Tsipras said that he sought to reassure the neighboring country, which is in the process of debating the agreement in its Parliament, that he fully supports the Prespa agreement; an agreement that will also upgrade Greece’s international standing.
In his statements outside Maximos Mansion where a cabinet meeting was held on Tuesday, Tsipras said he accepted Kotzias’ resignation “with a heavy heart.” He thanked Kotzias for his contribution in enhancing Greece’s position in the region in the past three and a half years.
In addition, Tsipras warned that he will “not accept any double talks from now on from anyone, no personal opinion relating to the country’s national policy, expressed consciously or not, that disrupts the country’s smooth progress.”
Addressing FYROM, the prime minister said, “I encourage them to proceed with determination and courage,” warning that “there will be no other opportunity” to change the country’s name as a prerequisite to join the EU and NATO.
In comments following the acceptance of the resignation of Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, who signed the Prespa agreement on the name issue, Tsipras said Greece will never accept membership of FYROM with the current name “Republic of Macedonia”, and invited them to take a major step for peace in the Balkans.
“My government will do whatever its international obligations call for,” Tsipras said.
(Source: AMNA)
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