Greece will guard our airspace, we will “guard” its monuments

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras came carrying this message in his first official visit to North Macedonia that was done without an official welcome, allegedly because of the delegation’s delayed flight. Tsipras assessed that this visit presents an important and historic day for us and for the Balkans, that a lot of time has been wasted in the past three decades and that we should bridge all of these gaps and transition from history of wars and a narrative of division.

“We wasted so much time. We have to run faster, because we’d wasted three decades. We have to bridge all of these gaps and transition from history of wars and a narrative of division. We must try to set up a new narrative of joint cooperation and growth,” Tsipras said at the start of the press conference.

As concrete steps in this, he announced the rise of the level of representation in the two countries, ​​taking control of the airspace above our country, which so far, in his opinion, avoided Greek airliners as unsafe, opening a new border crossing at  Promachonas and Majdan, establishment of a joint coordinating committee at the level of ministries of finance that will encourage trade cooperation and new investments in the country, abolish double taxation, invest in railway link, renewing the oil pipeline, connecting the gas pipeline, as well as exchange and training skills in defense. “We will build strategic cooperation on many levels,” Tsipras announced, adding that, on the other hand, it should be ensured that the Prespa Agreement is fully and accurately implemented.

“We took great steps forward. We need to continue in the future,” Tsipras encouraged, pointing out that a major step in building confidence was the meetings of the textbook review experts. The Committee at the level of foreign ministries will discuss, according to him, both on archaeological issues and on culture, foreseeing the eradication of all irredentist approaches and actions, and the monuments related to ancient history to explain that they are part of the history of ancient Greek civilization.

“Greece is an important country, Zoran, especially when it spreads its wings, when it takes off. Not when it closes them. This applies to all nations. That is why these monuments from ancient Macedonia and their deployment and naming will clarify that they are part of the ancient Greek history. These monuments belong to the world, they are part of the world heritage, we will be glad when you name the monuments, “said Greek PM Tsipras.
Both Greek PM Tsipras and PM Zoran Zaev announced that by mid-May a joint expert group should be set up for the commercial use of the name, terminology and brands with the expectation that it will find an answer to these open issues in three years.

Many of Tsipras’ messages were not intended specifically for us, but were directed to the opponents of the Prespa Agreement in Greece, who had stepped up on the eve of the elections in Greece. According to him, in the past months they have been facing fake news, in the sense that the Prespa Agreement created problems, and said that those problems of dryness were created over the past 30 years, and this agreement solves them. Asked what would happen with the agreement if the current governments in both countries lose the next elections, both Tsipras and Zaev did not believe that New Democracy or VMRO-DPMNE would reject it.

“There are people who will never be convinced by the arguments and the reality. There are people in Greek Macedonia who say they do not support the Prespa agreement, and they have entrepreneurial activities in your country,” Tsipras noted, referring to the position of the head of the Chamber of Commerce in Thessaloniki, otherwise close to the New Democracy, who refused to be part of the visit, although this chamber has started the meetings with North Macedonia’s Chamber of Commerce. According to the Greek Prime Minister, although the opposition rejects it, he will not ask questions about the Prespa Agreement, and he assumes that the same will happen in our country. “Dialogue and confrontation are acceptable in democratic societies, but ratified agreements are binding for governments, unless the people themselves decide to change them,” Tsipras said.

According to Prime Minister Zaev, history has shown that what has been confirmed and signed, and is in favor of the citizens, cannot be changed and that when the effects (such as investments, tourists and support) are seen, the agreement will have 100% support.

“We invest in the future. We write history. We are not captives of history,” paraphrased briefly Greek Prime Minister Tsipras, saying his and Zaev’s intention was to win, not to lose the elections, although according to all Greek reporters’ foresee the defeat of Tsipras in the European elections is certain, so the hope is to change something until October, when general elections are scheduled to be held.

Regarding the dilemma whether the protection of the airspace above Macedonia will cost or is free of charge, Tsipras replied that the compensation is the stability of the entire region.

“That is what we get in return. We want a neighbor which is stable politically, but also in the area of security. Greece has top skills and knowledge in the field of aviation. We have the ability to support North Macedonia. It is one of the most developed in Southeast Europe,” said Tsipras, announcing more trainings for Macedonia’s staff and the use of Greek equipment. Although it is a rule in NATO for countries that cannot control their own airspace, like Macedonia, to get airspace control in a package with the membership, Prime Minister Zaev explained that our country has no developed aviation, that our country has other cooperation agreements with Bulgaria and with Albania, and that this decision is good for the entire region.

“Common security prevents illegal acts and accidents, guarantees secure communications and transport to our citizens. I traveled with the government plane and always noticed that the pilot is avoiding the airspace above FYROM. It was stupid. What other country can play that role? Greece, of course,” added Tsipras.

Solun became Thessaloniki

Although there was no confirmation that the obligation to respect the Greek toponyms includes the name of Solun (Thessaloniki), which by the way is used not only in Macedonia, but also in Serbia and other countries in the region, yesterday this fact was promoted by an official translator from Greek to Macedonian. Translating Prime Minister Tsipras, she repeatedly used the name Thessaloniki in Macedonian. Tsipras was greeted with a board with the name North Macedonia, and nobody believed that the reason for not playing the anthem during the official ceremony was due to the Greek delegation’s delayed flight. Instead, Tsipras and Zaev made a small unofficial show, taking a “selfie” with the reporters.