Prespa Agreement

“We must be careful because our right to self-determination and our right to use our Macedonian Language is accepted and recognised by Greece,” Zaef said

The main opposition party has vowed to vote down the agreement when it is tabled in the Greek Parliament for ratification,

Zaev’s statement led UN mediator Matthew Nimetz to intervene with the parties in order to calm the waters.

Katrougalos declared that the naming accord guarantees Greek sovereignty and forbids FYROM’s intervention in Greek affairs.

Asked about the Prespa naming agreement, 65 percent of respondents were opposed, and 17 percent were in favour. Five percent said the issue did not concern them, and 13 percent said they were neither for or against.

'He [Kammenos] spoke of secret funds. He also said that Soros is funding the government to buy off foreigners [to pass the Greece-FYROM Prespa Agreement],' ex-foreign minister Kotzias said in an interview.

Kotzias declared that the government spokesman is hiding the truth about the reasons for his resignation, and he called upon the prime minister to make public the nine-page resignation letter that he submitted to him on 16 October.

SYRIZA ministers have said that, even without Kammenos, the government can muster an absolute majority both for ratification of the Prespa Agreement, and for a possible no-confidence motion by main opposition New Democracy.

Defence Minister Panos Kammenos assumed the mantle of foreign minister and presented his own plan for a Balkan alliance, supported by creating new American bases in Greece.

In an exclusive interview with Ta Nea, FYROM Prime Minister Zoran Zaev expresses the conviction that political problems are solved by implementing a new policy, and not by changing borders.

The defence minister is a walking time bomb. In the face of his personal political impasse,he is ready at any given moment to raise tensions, and create turbulence, in order to negotiate his political salvation.

Kammenos maintained that the American military presence in Greece could bolster Greece’s defence policy, with the transfer of knowhow, in a period in which new threats are arising.

The German Chancellor again weighed in to support the Greece-FYROM aaccord in a letter to FYROM’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev.

'Even though many people would have liked to see a higher turnout, I am pleased that the overwhelming majority of those who did make use of their democratic right voted for the agreement with Greece,' Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.

'Yesterday’s referendum in FYROM was completed with an overwhelming majority voting ‘Yes’, which is a positive development on the path toward ratifying and putting into effect the Prespa Agreement,' Tzanakopoulos noted.

Suddeutsche Zeitung concluded that FYROM’s citizens 'were called to the polls to say a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, but the majority remained silent, the referendum failed, and the Balkan country’s promising start toward the West is ending in a ditch for now.'

'The agreement deals a huge economic blow to businesses and products in northern Greece. It raises issues of competition and certification which produce mutual suspicion, and finally turns into an obstacle to inter-state and commercial relations.'

'If we want to protect our national interest, upgrade the role of the country...this mean we should create alliances. And the best strategic ally in the region is the U.S.,” the PM said.

The aim of Ivanov and the opposition is to delegitimise the referendum by ensuring a very low turnout.

'Mr. Tsipras uneasily watches the Skopjans celebrating about the ‘Macedonian’ language and the ‘Macedonian nationality’ that he handed over to them,' said the main opposition leader.