Deputy FM Amanatidis: Close to agreement, waiting for Skopje’s decisions

Athens and Skopje are close to agreement and Greece is waiting for decisions of the Prime Minister of the neighboring country, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Amanatidis said in an interview with TV Skai.

Amanatidis considers that an agreement on the name issue is in the interest of both countries and ‘settle problems in a way that will prevent future conflicts.’

‘As Greek FM has revealed, it (the agreement) is a package-solution of about 20 pages that tackles all issues: irredentism, constitutional revision, overall (erga omnes use of the new name), cooperation agenda and naturally a timeframe for the document’s implementation,’ Amanatidis said, expressing belief that Athens-Skopje name deal would be approved by majority of Greek citizens and MPs.

In regard to today’s protests, which should be held in over ten cities in the northern part of Greece, Amanatidis said he understood the feelings of citizens, but leaving the name issue unresolved would keep burdening the national interests.