Macedonian PM: No alternative other than EU membership

By Askin Kiyagan

VIENNA (AA) - Macedonian prime minister on Wednesday said his country did not have any alternative other than full membership of the European Union.

In a joint press meeting with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Zoran Zaev said that the name issue between his country and Greece has been settled.

In June, the Macedonian and Greek governments signed the Prespa Agreement, which required Macedonia to change its name and Greece to drop its objection to Macedonia joining NATO and becoming a member of the European Union (EU).

The historic agreement, which ended a 28-year dispute over Macedonia’s name, is “an important chance” for the future of the Balkan country, Zaev said.

On Friday, Greece’s parliament ratified the deal, paving the way for the Balkan country to join NATO and the EU.

Under the deal, Macedonia will be renamed “the Republic of North Macedonia” and Greece will drop its objections to the country joining NATO and becoming a member of the European Union.

The name issue had kept Macedonia from joining the EU and NATO since its independence in 1991.

On Jan. 11, Macedonia’s parliament had approved a constitutional amendment to change the country's name.