Syrigos: FYROM diplomatic note compounds problems
The diplomatic note sent by the former Yugoslv Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to Greece compounds an already problematic name deal, says Angelos Syrigos, associated Professor of International Law and Foreign Policy at Athens’ Panteion University. “(The Prespes Agreement) concedes a (Macedonian) language and citizenship and, unfortunately, the diplomatic note that was sent a couple […]
Balkan-style tightrope walk
The name deal signed between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) in June stipulates that Athens will launch the process to ratify the agreement only after Skopje has completed its part of the process. Skopje must first notify Athens that its lawmakers have endorsed the deal (Article 1.4.b). “Upon notification by the […]
Turkey, Kastellorizo and Greek elections
In 2012 Turkey formally laid claim to the northern section of the Eastern Mediterranean. It was the year that several maps depicting sea areas west of Cyprus and south of the eastern Aegean islands of Rhodes and Kastellorizo were published in the Turkish government gazette. The Turkish government was ceding research and development rights of […]
Factbox: Greece’s territorial waters and Turkey
Following his resignation from the post of foreign minister, Nikos Kotzias said that Greece was ready to extend its territorial waters in the Ionian Sea to 12 nautical miles. This came as surprise to Greece’s political parties and drew a strong reaction from Turkey, which claimed that any extension of Greece’s territorial waters in the […]
South Africans, South Sudanese, ‘Macedonians’
If the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) fulfills all the commitments it made when signing the name deal in Prespes, northern Greece, it will become the fifth country in the United Nations with a geographical qualifier in its name: after South Africa, the Central African Republic, East Timor (also known as Timor-Leste) and more […]
Three positive points, but also one major flaw
The Greece-FYROM name deal appears to have three positive points, but also one serious flaw that may prove instrumental. The first plus is the fact that Greece will not have to ratify the agreement until the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia does all the work it needs to do, among which is putting the deal […]