According to Greek media: North Macedonia, Macedonian language and identity contained in the name deal

Republic of North Macedonia, erga omnes, Macedonian language and Macedonian identity is contained in the agreement set to be signed by Macedonia and Greece, according to reports of a Greek radio station and journalists reveling details of the resolutions.

Greek journalists have reported the agreement ensures that:

– Provisions in the Constitution ‘to protect the Macedonian minority living beyond its borders’ are removed and an adequate article existing in the Greek Constitution about the diaspora is incorporated.

– Transitional periods are defined to change the country’s documents and this complex process corresponds with the opening of chapters in the accession negotiations,

– A commission is set up to review the use of trade names in the two countries,

– Macedonian language is recognized with a note that Northern Macedonia as part of the agreement is acknowledging that the language belongs to the family of Slavic languages (as registered in the UN),

– As regards nationality, it promotes the term Macedonian/Citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia with a clear distinction that the people of this country have no direct links to the ancient Greek civilization.

Once it is reached, the name agreement will have to be ratified in Macedonia’s Parliament followed by the Greek government sending a letter to the EU and NATO that it ‘encourages the opening of negotiations to integrate North Macedonia into the EU and in NATO after the country carries out a constitutional revision,” MIA reports from Athens citing reports of the Greek radio station 24.7.

With respect to the meeting of EU foreign ministers (June 25-26) and the NATO summit in July, the EU will make sure that a positive message is sent for the launch of accession talks and NATO will extend an invitation to Macedonia, i.e. North Macedonia under the condition that a constitutional revision is made.

Also, PM Zoran Zaev will have to send a letter to the countries that have recognized Macedonia under its constitutional name to notify them that the name North Macedonia is being enforced in bilateral relations and at international forums, according to Greek journalists.

“The Zoran Zaev-led government should call a referendum between the period of July and December 2018. If the outcome is positive, it will be followed by revision of the Constitution. If the outcome is negative, a Plan B has been prepared, which most likely involves early parliamentary elections with a referendum-like character over the Skopje issue,” reported the Greek radio outlet.

Once Macedonia completes all of its obligations, the agreement should be ratified by Greek MPs. The country’s NATO membership should be ratified around the same time.

So far, neither the Greek government nor the Macedonian government have confirmed any of the reports in the Greek media about the content of the name deal, MIA reports.

Details of the agreement, reached reportedly by the PMs Zoran Zaev and Alexis Tsipras, have been leaked ahead of the anticipated phone call between the countries’ leaders, expected to take place Tuesday afternoon.