German Chancellor on second day of visit to Athens
Angela Merkel was vilified by many in Greece as the European leader who forced unwanted austerity policies on the country.
ADVERTISEMENTBut it’s in a more welcoming political environment that the German chancellor will today conclude a two day visit to Athens. One of Merkel’s goals is to see a successful conclusion to the long-standing dispute over the name of Greece’s neighbour, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
She is supporting the initiative to call the country North Macedonia.
At a joint press conference with the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Merkel said: “I am grateful to Alexis Tsipras who took the initiative to find a solution along with Zoran Zaev regarding a very difficult issue, that of the name dispute with the neighbouring country. I am convinced that the solution will benefit Greece, North Macedonia, the stability in western Balkans and European Union.”
Tsipras said: "The Prespes Agreement is a very significant step forward for the stability, security and development of the region. I believe it is a model agreement for other disputes, which shows that mutually acceptable solutions - without one side imposing something on the other - are possible.”