Nikos Dendias, Greece’s new Foreign Minister from the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, expressed his first impressions after the Helsinki summit, where he held his first meeting with Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov and spoke about the Prespa Agreement, saying that there were no mutual invitations for visits and that his country would “be a strict observer of the neighbor”.

In an interview with Greek radio “Alpha989”, he said that he made this clear to Nikola Dimitrov during their meeting in Helsinki, from whom he received confirmation of the Skopje government’s intention to adhere to the agreement.

It is necessary, Skopje, North Macedonia to be obliged to implement the agreement. I notice an attempt to implement it. I also notice resistance from the state mechanism there. We will not allow deviations from what has been agreed. I made this clear to Mr. Dimitrov. I have to say that he confirmed to me the intention of the Government of North Macedonia to adhere to the agreement as it is, there was no counter response. There was a deal for this. But this is something we notice and want to see. We will not be benevolent researchers, we will be precise observers, Dendias says.

He added that Greece would support Macedonia in obtaining the EU accession date in October, but only if the country did not deviate from what has been agreed and said no mutual invitations had been exchanged with Dimitrov.

If, if, if, I say if three times, they adhere to what has been agreed, interpreted strictly. Invitations in these circumstances were not made. Let’s be honest with Skopje, North Macedonia, to get used to their new name, we have had a long period of doubt, differences, etc. Sure, we should try to build a new relationship, but capital should be invested by the other side too, we need to see goodwill and credibility invested. Greece is here to help. We are a European country in the Balkans, we are a Balkan country in Europe. We will convey European perception into our neighboring countries as well. But they also have to share this perception. North Macedonia and Albania certainly want to belong to Europe. So here’s a nice chance to grasp and follow the European model, rather than trying to escape what they have agreed to, says the Greek Foreign Minister.