Pavlopoulos calls again for name without irredentist claims, change of Macedonian constitution


Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos during Thursday’s meeting with President of Ireland Michael Higgins said that if Macedonia wants to integrate into NATO and EU it needs to change the constitution highlighting that whatever name is chosen should not contain a single trace of irredentism in terms of borders, nationality or language.

At the beginning of the meeting Pavlopoulos referred to Greek national issues, and issues related to Cyprus, Turkey and Macedonia.

Pavlopoulos reiterated that the current name of our country “radiates irredentism, brutally falsifies history and has irredentist roots and therefore violates European legislation,” MIA’s Athens correspondent reports.

“There is only one way for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to move forward towards NATO and the European Union. Firstly, to change the constitution and second, whatever name it chooses not to contain single trace of irredentism, regarding the borders, nationality and in terms of language,” Pavlopoulos said.

Pavlopoulos explained Higgins that Macedonia should “comply with international law, European legislation and history” and afterwards will receive support from Greece for its Euro-Atlantic integration.

“I am glad that Jean-Claude Juncker several days ago underlined something which is clear for every EU candidate country. First they resolve problems and afterwards join the EU. EU cannot become theatre for resolving differences, especially the differences that are in the imagination by some,” Pavlopoulos said, MIA reports.