Stoltenberg urges Skopje and Athens to complete the Prespa Agreement by February 15

Greek daily newspaper Kathimerini reported that NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg sent letters to Skopje and Athens urging the two governments to complete the ratification of the Prespa Agreement by February 15, so that Macedonia can join the alliance without further delay.

According to the letter, NATO members agreed that the vote on the ratification of the Prespa Agreement in the Greek parliament should be separated from the vote on the protocol for Macedonia’s accession to NATO.

The vote on the constitutional amendments in the Macedonian Parliament should start on January 9th and it is expected that the hearing can end by January 10th and thus reach the Greek parliament sooner. In his New Year’s address, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras did not cite the exact date when the Prespa Agreement would be reached for ratification in parliament. Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said the decision on the date of ratification should be made after January 18.

It is quite likely that the ratification of the Prespa Agreement will bring about major changes in the Greek political scene, and snap parliamentary elections are not ruled out.