ZAGREB, June 18, 2018 – The Foreign and European Affairs Ministry has stated that Croatia welcomes the agreement reached between Greece and Macedonia about the latter’s official name, which is likely to pave the way for the Balkan country’s admission to European Union and NATO.
“The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs welcomes the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and Greece on the name issue, signed today on the shores of the Prespa Lake,” reads the ministry’s press release issued on Sunday.
“Croatia expects that in the follow-up to this agreement the Republic of Macedonia will open membership negotiations with the European Union and also become a member of NATO. In those endeavours, it will continue to enjoy Croatia’s full support,” the press release says.
For the agreement to take effect, the parliaments of both countries should ratify the document, and it should also be approved at a referendum in Macedonia.
Greece has been in dispute with Macedonia since 1991 over the former Yugoslav republic’s name, arguing it could imply territorial claims over the Greek province of Macedonia and an appropriation of ancient Greek culture and civilization.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Skopje, after the signing of the landmark agreement with Greece over the country’s name on Sunday afternoon. Also, the deal was met with some opposition in Greece. Greek riot police blocked a few hundred protesters several kilometres away from the agreement-signing ceremony, foreign news agencies have reported.
