VMRO-DPMNE presidential candiate Gordana Siljanovska – Davkova blasted the Zaev Government for skipping the Macedonian national anthem during the visit of Alexis Tsipras earlier today.

The visit, a first for a Greek Prime Minister to Macedonia, was promoted as a top political event that was carried out “with highest honors” but the two anthems were curiously absent from the welcoming ceremony. The Zaev Government insisted that this is because Tsipras was late and there was no time, but the excuse rang hollow given that Greek politicians have often complained that the anthem was left out of the wholesale agreement which renames and redefines Macedonia to Greek liking. The anthem is called “Today over Macedonia” and it obviously mentions Macedonia, not “North Macedonia”. It also speaks how the Macedonians fought for their freedom, not North Macedonians.

The anthem is an important national symbol. When we hear it, we rise, we cry, we identify with it. As the visit of a Greek Prime Minister is an important event, unfortunately it was held without the two anthems which is a situation without precedent in the past 75 years of Macedonian statehood. Is this another step toward the removal of the Macedonian national identity from Macedonia?, asked Siljanovska.