Tsipras: The Greek government will not back down

Speaking at a conference dedicated to the Prespa Agreement, Tsipras congratulated his Macedonian counterpart, Zoran Zaev, and said that with the agreement, Greece freed from the logic of nationalism and quasi-patriotism for such a critical national issue, and “the same was done on the other side of the border.”

Zoran Zaev and his government also achieved the same, sealing the entire attempt with a courageous constitutional revision that ensures the long-term nature of this agreement. Let me congratulate him here, because it is the first time I speak after the positive completion of the process in Skopje. Let me congratulate the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, for the courage he showed from the beginning to the end of this process, Tsipras said. He praised Zaev for not backing down to the nationalist and populist rhetoric and the rallies organised by VMRO in his country.

He attacked main opposition New Democracy and the Movement for Change (KINAL) party for opposing the agreement brokered by his government, accusing them of populism and hypocrisy.

The Greek government would also not back down, Tsipras underlined: “The Prespa Agreement is historic and patriotic and nationally beneficial, because real patriotism is not to hate the countries of others around you but to fight to make your own country a leading force for peace, brotherhood of nations, economic and social progress, in a region and a world that is constantly being destabilized,” he said.