From the very beginning, the signs in North Macedonia did not bode well, after the newly elected president of the Balkan country began his mandate with an unnecessary a blow to Greece, which caused waves in the otherwise calm bilateral relations between the two neighbors, writes the journalist from the Greek newspaper “Kathimerini“ Stavros Tsimas. The 70-year-old professor of constitutional law has set about stirring up relations with Athens, even though North Macedonia currently needs friends and allies, as well as neighbors with no claims on it, to continue progressing on its path to membership in the European Union - the ultimate goal, the author of "Kathimerini" points out, writes BTA.
Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova's decision to name her country “Macedonia” in swearing in on Sunday makes sense as it reflects her understandings and her campaign promises. What doesn't make sense in her decision is that she is no longer speaking as an ordinary citizen, nor as a candidate addressing a campaign rally. She is the president and her oath, which she broke from the first moment, must protect the constitution of the country, which is officially called the Republic of North Macedonia, writes Tsimas.
Was this a patriotic act by an academic who, by all accounts, does not know the realities of politics and geopolitics and who shot to the highest post of the wave caused by the collapse of the Socialists (SDSM)? Or was she instructed by her party - as she claimed in her campaign - to oppose the inevitable reactions from Athens and possibly other Western allies who recognize the country as North Macedonia?, the Greek journalist asks rhetorically.
Whether this is so, we will find out very soon, when the government is sworn in and the newly elected Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski makes his first program statement. If he follows in the footsteps of the president, the new government in Skopje will take full responsibility for the deterioration of relations with Greece and any impact this may have on the country's relationship with NATO, which has said the Prespa Agreement cannot be placed under question, Stavros Tsimas points out in the comment.
Silyanovska had been advised - not only by Athens - to be low-key, so it was not surprising to hear shocked whispers from the audience, which consisted mostly of foreign diplomats, when she ignored the speaker of parliament and swore in the constitution of a non-existent state , notes the Greek journalist. The exit of the Greek ambassador in Skopje Sofia Philippidou from the hall was also inevitable. Siljanovska seems to have decided to take the risk and act according to what her heart tells her is right, instead of complying with the requirements of her new post and office. Soon she will have to approve the constitutional changes - in favor of Bulgaria and with the consent of Europe - to recognize the Bulgarian minority in North Macedonia - another agreement that the new president and her party oppose, reminds the author of "Kathimerini".< /p>
Regardless of what comes next, the signs sent by the new president in Skopje are not optimistic, and the country's new government will have to be prepared to deal with the consequences.
Athens, on the other hand, should refrain from acting impulsively and from stoking the nationalist fervor of the new administration of the neighboring country, concludes Tsimas.