The Greek Embassy in Washington has taken formal action following a speech by Melania Trump in which she referred to the Republic of North Macedonia simply as “Macedonia.” The intervention was a corrective measure intended to uphold the legal standards of the 2018 Prespa Agreement.
During her remarks at a high-profile event earlier this week, the First Lady used the name “Macedonia” to describe Greece’s northern neighbor. Because the term “Macedonia” refers exclusively to the historic and geographical Greek province, its use as a name for a foreign state is a sensitive diplomatic violation. Under the erga omnes principle of the Prespa Agreement, the neighbor must be referred to as “North Macedonia” in all official and public contexts.
Greek Embassy responds to “Macedonia”
In response, Greek diplomats contacted the appropriate offices to ensure that official records and future communications reflect the correct terminology. The Embassy clarified that using the name “Macedonia” to refer to the sovereign state in Skopje not only ignores international treaties but also causes regional confusion regarding Greek cultural identity.
This decisive diplomatic intervention reflects Athens’ close attention to developments in Washington, underscoring that the qualifier “North” in the name of the country that borders Greece is legally binding rather than optional and is intended to safeguard the distinct identity of the Greek region of Macedonia.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
