Tzanakopoulos: We continue to support Zaev’s efforts

On our part, we will continue to support the great efforts of Mr. Zaev, we will continue to support the need for preserving the momentum of the Prespa Agreement, because we believe it is a waste to miss this chance to solve an issue plaguing the Balkans for nearly 30 years, said a Greek spokesman on Monday.

Speaking at a regular press briefing, Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said that yesterday’s referendum in Macedonia produced ‘great predominance for the ‘Yes’ vote,’ and called it ‘a good development aimed at ratification and coming into force of the Prespa Agreement.’

However, he said, the low turnout is a cause for concern.

“It is now up to FYROM’s parliament and we hope that the initiative of the PM Zoran Zaev’s government for a revision of the constitution will be successful. We will continue to closely follow developments and to support the initiative of Mr. Zaev with the sole purpose of preserving the momentum of the Prespa Agreement,” said Tzanakopoulos.

Asked about the deadlines, the government spokesman noted that there was a slight delay. For Greece, according to him, the fulfillment of deadlines is not crucial, the important thing is to meet the preconditions for the agreement to be ratified in the Greek Parliament.

“We want to send a concrete and clear message that we shouldn’t allow this opportunity to be lost,” Tzanakopoulos stated adding that at the moment there was a window of opportunity for the wider Balkan region to enter a new era.

The government spokesman also mentioned the ‘climate of nationalism and skepticism existing in both countries,’ referring to the positions of the opposition parties in Macedonia and Greece, namely VMRO-DPMNE and New Democracy. The two parties view the name agreement as ‘detrimental to national interests.’

When asked by MIA’s correspondent in Athens about yesterday’s phone call between the premiers of Macedonia and Greece, Tzanakopoulos said it took place in a cordial atmosphere with Alexis Tsipras voicing support for Zoran Zaev.

“The conversation was held in a positive and cordial climate. PM (Tsipras) extended his support to Mr. Zaev and praised his initiative to go ahead with the agreement’s ratification process, to go ahead with the process of constitutional revision in the Parliament of FYROM,” government spokesman Tzanakopoulos told today’s briefing in Athens.