Foreign relations of North Macedonia

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates The foreign relations of North Macedonia since its independence in 1991 have been characterized by the country's efforts to gain membership in international organizations such as NATO and the European Union and to gain international recognition under its previous constitutional name, overshadowed by a long-standing, dead-locked dispute with neighboring Greece. Greek objections to the country's name had led to it being admitted to the United Nations and several other international fora only under the provisional designation Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia until its official and erga omnes renaming to North Macedonia, a name under which it is now universally recognised.

Diplomatic relations

North Macedonia became a member state of the United Nations on April 8, 1993, eighteen months after its independence from the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It was referred within the UN as "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", pending a resolution, to the long-running dispute about the country's name. Unusually, the country's flag was not raised at UN Headquarters when the state joined the UN. It was not until after the country's flag was changed that it was raised at the UN Headquarters. Other international bodies, such as the European Union, European Broadcasting Union, and the International Olympic Committee had adopted the same naming convention. NATO also used that name in official documents but added an explanation on which member countries recognise the constitutional name. A number of countries recognised the country by its former constitutional name – the Republic of Macedonia – rather than the UN reference, notably four of the five permanent UN Security Council members (the United Kingdom, the United States, China, and Russia). All UN member states currently recognise North Macedonia as a sovereign state.

List of countries

List of countries which North Macedonia maintains diplomatic relations with:

File:Diplomatic relations of North Macedonia.svg
#	Country	Date
1	Slovenia	Template:Dts
2	Croatia	Template:Dts
3	Turkey	Template:Dts
4	Belarus	Template:Dts
5	New Zealand	Template:Dts
6	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Template:Dts
7	Indonesia	Template:Dts
8	Malaysia	Template:Dts
9	Pakistan	Template:Dts
10	China	Template:Dts
11	North Korea	Template:Dts
12	Angola	Template:Dts
13	Denmark	Template:Dts
14	Germany	Template:Dts
15	Italy	Template:Dts
16	Netherlands	Template:Dts
17	United Kingdom	Template:Dts
18	Norway	Template:Dts
19	Sweden	Template:Dts
20	Bulgaria	Template:Dts
21	Albania	Template:Dts
22	Finland	Template:Dts
23	France	Template:Dts
24	Iceland	Template:Dts
25	Poland	Template:Dts
26	Liechtenstein	Template:Dts
27	Russia	Template:Dts
28	Switzerland	Template:Dts
29	Belgium	Template:Dts
30	Japan	Template:Dts
31	Czech Republic	Template:Dts
32	Slovakia	Template:Dts
33	Kyrgyzstan	Template:Dts
34	Vietnam	Template:Dts
35	Bolivia	Template:Dts
36	Spain	Template:Dts
37	Hungary	Template:Dts
38	Luxembourg	Template:Dts
39	Egypt	Template:Dts
40	Portugal	Template:Dts
41	Ireland	Template:Dts
—	Holy See	Template:Dts
42	Austria	Template:Dts
43	Uzbekistan	Template:Dts
44	Romania	Template:Dts
45	Saudi Arabia	Template:Dts
46	Moldova	Template:Dts
47	India	Template:Dts
48	Antigua and Barbuda	Template:Dts
50	Estonia	Template:Dts
49	Iran	Template:Dts
51	Libya	Template:Dts
52	Ukraine	Template:Dts
53	Singapore	Template:Dts
54	Kazakhstan	Template:Dts
55	Mongolia	Template:Dts
56	Azerbaijan	Template:Dts
57	Lithuania	Template:Dts
58	United States	Template:Dts
59	Greece	Template:Dts
60	Australia	Template:Dts
61	Israel	Template:Dts
62	Oman	Template:Dts
63	Tajikistan	Template:Dts
64	Belize	Template:Dts
65	Ghana	Template:Dts
66	Latvia	Template:Dts
67	Bangladesh	Template:Dts
68	Laos	Template:Dts
69	Nicaragua	Template:Dts
70	Serbia	Template:Dts
71	Rwanda	Template:Dts
72	Honduras	Template:Dts
73	Sudan	Template:Dts
74	United Arab Emirates	Template:Dts
75	Turkmenistan	Template:Dts
76	Qatar	Template:Dts
77	Canada	Template:Dts
—	Sovereign Military Order of Malta	Template:Dts
78	Afghanistan	Template:Dts
79	Bahrain	Template:Dts
80	Costa Rica	Template:Dts
81	Dominica	Template:Dts
82	El Salvador	Template:Dts
83	Cambodia	Template:Dts
84	Tanzania	Template:Dts
85	Mozambique	Template:Dts
86	Djibouti	Template:Dts
87	Kuwait	Template:Dts
88	Guinea	Template:Dts
89	Nepal	Template:Dts
90	Zambia	Template:Dts
91	Sri Lanka	Template:Dts
92	Togo	Template:Dts
93	Sierra Leone	Template:Dts
94	Lesotho	Template:Dts
95	Gambia	Template:Dts
96	Yemen	Template:Dts
97	Brazil	Template:Dts
98	Argentina	Template:Dts
99	Democratic Republic of the Congo	Template:Dts
100	Malawi	Template:Dts
101	Chad	Template:Dts
102	Burundi	Template:Dts
103	Cuba	Template:Dts
104	Colombia	Template:Dts
105	Ecuador	Template:Dts
106	Comoros	Template:Dts
107	Guinea-Bissau	Template:Dts
108	São Tomé and Príncipe	Template:Dts
109	Ethiopia	Template:Dts
110	Uganda	Template:Dts
111	Saint Lucia	Template:Dts
112	Eritrea	Template:Dts
113	Ivory Coast	Template:Dts
114	Jordan	Template:Dts
115	Dominican Republic	Template:Dts
116	Gabon	Template:Dts
117	Maldives	Template:Dts
118	Niger	Template:Dts
119	Seychelles	Template:Dts
120	Mauritius	Template:Dts
121	Republic of the Congo	Template:Dts
122	Cameroon	Template:Dts
123	Haiti	Template:Dts
124	Mexico	Template:Dts
125	Guatemala	Template:Dts
126	Vanuatu	Template:Dts
127	Algeria	Template:Dts
128	Panama	Template:Dts
129	Venezuela	Template:Dts
130	Uruguay	Template:Dts
131	Equatorial Guinea	Template:Dts
132	Morocco	Template:Dts
133	Madagascar	Template:Dts
134	Senegal	Template:Dts
135	Central African Republic	Template:Dts
136	Marshall Islands	Template:Dts
137	Timor-Leste	Template:Dts
138	Jamaica	Template:Dts
139	Nigeria	Template:Dts
140	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Template:Dts
141	Myanmar	Template:Dts
142	Guyana	Template:Dts
143	Benin	Template:Dts
144	Burkina Faso	Template:Dts
145	Federated States of Micronesia	Template:Dts
146	Nauru	Template:Dts
147	Cape Verde	Template:Dts
148	Thailand	Template:Dts
149	Somalia	Template:Dts
150	Mauritania	Template:Dts
151	Iraq	Template:Dts
152	Peru	Template:Dts
153	Samoa	Template:Dts
154	Kenya	Template:Dts
155	Montenegro	Template:Dts
156	Suriname	Template:Dts
157	Eswatini	Template:Dts
158	Brunei	Template:Dts
159	Paraguay	Template:Dts
160	Chile	Template:Dts
161	Andorra	Template:Dts
162	Botswana	Template:Dts
—	Kosovo	Template:Dts
163	Fiji	Template:Dts
164	Syria	Template:Dts
165	Zimbabwe	Template:Dts
166	Tuvalu	Template:Dts
167	Namibia	Template:Dts
168	Malta	Template:Dts
169	Template:Country data Georgia	Template:Dts
170	South Korea	Template:Dts
171	Cyprus	Template:Dts
172	Saint Kitts and Nevis	Template:Dts
173	Monaco	Template:Dts
174	San Marino	Template:Dts
175	Armenia	Template:Dts
176	Tunisia	Template:Dts
177	Philippines	Template:Dts
178	South Africa	Template:Dts
179	Solomon Islands	Template:Dts
180	Lebanon	Template:Dts

Bilateral relations

Multilateral

Organization	Formal Relations Began	Notes
European Union		See Accession of North Macedonia to the European Union
Template:Country data NATO		See North Macedonia–NATO relations North Macedonia joined NATO on 27 March 2020.

Africa

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Egypt	14 November 1994	North Macedonia has an embassy in Cairo.
South Africa	18 September 2023	South Africa is represented in North Macedonia by its embassy in Athens, Greece.

Americas

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Argentina	24 September 1999	Argentina is accredited to North Macedonia from its embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria. North Macedonia is accredited to Argentina from its embassy in Madrid, Spain.
Brazil	14 September 1998	Brazil is accredited to North Macedonia from its embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria. North Macedonia has an embassy in Brasília.
Canada	4 July 1996	See Canada–North Macedonia relations Canada is accredited to North Macedonia from its embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. North Macedonia has an embassy in Ottawa. Canada has an honorary consulate in Skopje.
Mexico	4 October 2001	Mexico is accredited to North Macedonia from its embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. North Macedonia is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. Mexico has an honorary consulate in Skopje.
United States	13 September 1995	See North Macedonia–United States relations File:Bush with Macedonian state delegation in 2008.jpg Then US President George W. Bush with the political leaders of North Macedonia in 2008 The United States and North Macedonia enjoy excellent bilateral relations. The United States formally recognized North Macedonia on February 8, 1994, and the two countries established full diplomatic relations on September 13, 1995. The U.S. Liaison Office was upgraded to an embassy in February 1996, and the first U.S. Ambassador to Skopje arrived in July 1996. The development of political relations between the United States and North Macedonia has ushered in a whole host of other contacts between the two states. In 2004, the United States recognized the country under its constitutional name of that time – Republic of Macedonia. North Macedonia has an embassy in Washington, D.C. and consulates-general in Chicago, Detroit and Ridgefield Park. United States has an embassy in Skopje.

Asia

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Azerbaijan	28 June 1995	See Azerbaijan–North Macedonia relations The government of North Macedonia recognized the independence of Azerbaijan on June 25, 1995. Diplomatic relations were established on June 28, 1995.
China	12 October 1993	See China–North Macedonia relations On October 12, 1993, the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) established diplomatic relations with North Macedonia expressly declaring that the Government of the PRC is the sole legal government of China, and Taiwan as an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. The Government of North Macedonia affirmed it would not establish any form of official relations with Taiwan. China has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in Beijing.
Template:Country data Georgia	16 February 2019	See Georgia–North Macedonia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on February 16, 2019.
India	1996	See India–North Macedonia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1996. North Macedonia has an embassy in New Delhi.
Indonesia		Indonesia is represented in North Macedonia by its embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria. Indonesia has an honorary consulate in Skopje.
Iran	10 March 1995	Both countries established diplomatic relations on March 10, 1995. Iran has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia is accredited to Iran from its embassy in Ankara, Turkey.
Israel	7 December 1995	See Israel–North Macedonia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on December 7, 1995. Israel has an honorary consulate in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in Tel Aviv.
Japan	March 1994	See Japan–North Macedonia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations in March 1994. North Macedonia opened its first resident embassy in Tokyo in 2013 and the first resident ambassador of North Macedonia to Japan is H.E. Dr. Andrijana Cvetkovik Japan has an embassy in Skopje.
Kazakhstan		The two countries hold regular political consultations on subjects of political, economic, cultural, humanitarian issues. North Macedonia has an embassy in Astana.
North Korea	11 October 1993	Both countries established diplomatic relations on October 11, 1993. They enjoy friendly relations. DPRK is represented in North Macedonia through its embassy in Sofia.
South Korea	18 July 2019	Due to the concern of Greece on Macedonia naming dispute, The Republic of Korea did not establish formal diplomatic relations with Macedonia until it renamed itself "Republic of North Macedonia". Both countries established diplomatic relations on July 18, 2019. South Korea is represented in North Macedonia through its embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Qatar		North Macedonia has an embassy in Doha. Qatar has an embassy in Skopje.
Taiwan	27 January 1999	Notwithstanding the above, North Macedonia and the Republic of China on Taiwan (ROC) established diplomatic relations on January 27, 1999. This development increased the number of the ROC's diplomatic allies in Europe from one to two (the other being the Holy See). The PRC was opposed to this and in retaliation vetoed the UN resolution renewing the mandate of the UNPREDEP (a peacekeeping force) in North Macedonia. On April 28, 1999, North Macedonia opened an embassy in Taipei, ROC. The Republic of North Macedonia and the PRC normalized their relations on June 18, 2001. On the same day, the ROC severed diplomatic relations with North Macedonia. In the joint communiqué between North Macedonia and People's Republic of China, North Macedonia recognized "emphatically that there is but one China in the world, that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory".
Turkey		See North Macedonia–Turkey relations Due to historical and cultural mutualities and human bonds North Macedonia and Turkey have very close and friendly relations. Shortly after North Macedonia declared its independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991, Turkey was among the first countries to recognise North Macedonia's sovereignty. Bilateral relations were established on August 26, 1992. North Macedonia has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate-general in Istanbul. Turkey has an embassy in Skopje and a consulate-general in Bitola. Both countries are full members of NATO.
United Arab Emirates		North Macedonia has an embassy in Abu Dhabi.
Vietnam	10 June 1994	Both countries established diplomatic relations on June 10, 1994. North Macedonia is represented in Vietnam through its embassy in Beijing, China. Vietnam is represented in North Macedonia through its embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Europe

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Albania		See Albania–North Macedonia relations Recently (Aug. 2008) they signed a treaty enabling visa-free movement between the countries. Both countries support each other's ethnic minorities in cultural, political and educational aspects. During the ethnic conflict in 2001, the Albanian government did not interfere and supported a peaceful resolution. Albania had recognized Skopje under the UN provisional reference of the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", abbreviated as FYROM. Both countries are full members of the NATO and Council of Europe. On 26 November 2019, an earthquake struck Albania. North Macedonia sent €100,000 in financial aid, drones with thermal cameras, rescue teams and mechanical equipment for relief operations. Both countries started EU Accession negotiations on 24 March 2020. Albania has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in Tirana.
Austria	23 December 1994	See Austria–North Macedonia relations Austria has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in Vienna. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe. Austria is an EU member and North Macedonia is an EU candidate.
Belgium		Belgium is accredited to North Macedonia from its embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria. North Macedonia has an embassy in Brussels. Both countries are full members of NATO.
Bosnia and Herzegovina		See Bosnia and Herzegovina–North Macedonia relations Bosnia has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in Sarajevo.
Bulgaria	On 15 January 1992, Bulgaria was the first country to officially recognize the then Republic of Macedonia. On 12 September 1992, consulates general of both countries were opened, in Sofia and Skopje respectively. On 21 December 1993, diplomatic relations at the embassy level were established between Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia.	See Bulgaria–North Macedonia relations Bulgaria–North Macedonia relations refer to the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and North Macedonia. Rules for governing good neighbourly relations were agreed between Bulgaria and North Macedonia in the Joint Declaration of February 22, 1999 and reaffirmed by a joint memorandum signed on January 22, 2008 in Sofia. The governments of Bulgaria and North Macedonia signed a friendship treaty to bolster the relations between the two Balkan states in August 2017. The treaty was ratified by the parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia on the 15th of and of Bulgaria on 18 January 2018. Bulgaria is the first country in the world to recognise Macedonia as an independent state. Both countries are full members of NATO. Bulgaria has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in Sofia.
Croatia		See Croatia–North Macedonia relations Croatia has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in Zagreb. Both countries are full members of NATO.
Cyprus	29 August 2019	See Cyprus–North Macedonia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on August 29, 2019.
Czech Republic	2 March 1994	See Czech Republic–North Macedonia relations Both countries are full members of NATO. North Macedonia has an embassy in Prague. Czech Republic has a consular agency in Skopje.
Denmark		See Denmark–North Macedonia relations Both countries are full members of NATO. North Macedonia has an embassy in Copenhagen. Denmark has an honorary consulate-general in Skopje.
Estonia	2 March 1995	Both countries established diplomatic relations on March 2, 1995. Both countries are full members of NATO. North Macedonia has an embassy in Tallinn. Estonia has an honorary consulate in Skopje.
Finland		Finland is an EU member and North Macedonia is an candidate. Both countries are full members of NATO.
France		See France–North Macedonia relations France has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in Paris. Both countries are full members of NATO.
Germany		See Germany–North Macedonia relations Germany has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in Berlin. Both countries are full members of NATO.
Greece		See Greece–North Macedonia relations North Macedonia and Greece have excellent economic and business relations, with Greece being the largest investor in the country. Until the Prespa Agreement (2019), the indeterminate status of North Macedonia's former name arose from a long-running dispute with Greece. The main points of the dispute were: The name: see Macedonia naming dispute, and the section Naming issue (resolved, below in this article). The flag: the use of Vergina Sun, a Greek state symbol, on the initial national flag used between 1992 and 1995 (resolved, see below) Constitutional issues: certain articles of the constitution that were seen as claims on Greek territory (resolved, see below). The naming issue was "parked" in a compromise agreed at the United Nations in 1993. However, Greece refused to grant diplomatic recognition to the Republic and imposed an economic blockade that lasted until the flag and constitutional issues were resolved in 1995. The naming issue was resolved with the Prespa Agreement, signed in 2018, and entered into force in February 2019. Both countries are full members of NATO. Greece has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in Athens.
Iceland		Iceland is represented in North Macedonia through its embassy in Vienna, Austria. North Macedonia is represented in Iceland through its embassy in London, United Kingdom, and an honorary consulate in Reykjavík. Both countries are full members of NATO.
Italy		Italy has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in Rome and a consulate-general in Venice. Both countries are full members of NATO.
Kosovo		See Kosovo–North Macedonia relations North Macedonia and Kosovo have very friendly and cordial neighbourly relations which mainly are due to the ethnic Albanian populations that live inside North Macedonia. In October 2008, North Macedonia recognized Kosovo as an independent state with plan to establish diplomatic relations. Kosovo recognized the neighbouring country under its former constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia. Also in October 2008, a bilateral agreement was signed between the two countries after the border between the two was physically marked by a joint committee. Kosovo and North Macedonia have signed a Free Trade Agreement in 2005 to facilitate trade opportunities, investment conditions and improve good-neighbourly relations. North Macedonia's investments are the largest in Kosovo since its independence on February 17, 2008 year. Kosovo has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in Pristina.
Lithuania	18 July 1995	Both countries established diplomatic relations on July 18, 1995. Both countries are full members of NATO. Lithuania has an honorary consulate in Skopje.
Montenegro	14 June 2006	See North Macedonia–Montenegro relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on June 14, 2006. Both countries are full members of NATO. North Macedonia has an embassy in Podgorica. Montenegro has an embassy in Skopje.
Netherlands		the Netherlands has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in The Hague. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and NATO.
Norway	1993	Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1993. Both countries are full members of NATO. North Macedonia has an embassy in Oslo. Norway has an embassy in Skopje.
Poland		North Macedonia has an embassy in Warsaw. Poland has an embassy in Skopje. Both countries are full members of NATO.
Romania	11 January 1995	Both countries established diplomatic relations on January 11, 1995. Both countries are full members of NATO. North Macedonia has an embassy in Bucharest. Romania has an embassy in Skopje.
Russia		See North Macedonia–Russia relations North Macedonia has an embassy in Moscow. Russia has an embassy in Skopje.
Serbia		See North Macedonia–Serbia relations North Macedonia and Serbia traditionally have friendly relations. Serbia is a main trading partner and recognized its neighbour under its former constitutional name – Republic of Macedonia. Macedonians in Serbia are a recognized national minority, same as Serbs in North Macedonia. However, the non-recognition of the Macedonian Orthodox Church by the Serbian Orthodox Church and North Macedonia's recognition of Kosovo as an independent state are disturbing the relations of these two countries. North Macedonia has an embassy in Belgrade. Serbia has an embassy in Skopje.
Slovenia	12 February 1992	See North Macedonia–Slovenia relations North Macedonia and Slovenia have very close political and economic relations. Once part of SFR Yugoslavia, the two republics declared independence in 1991 (Slovenia in June, North Macedonia in September) and recognised each other's independence on February 12, 1992. Diplomatic relations between both countries were established on March 17, 1992. Slovenia supports North Macedonia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, its Euro-integration and visa liberalisation. A significant number of Slovenian investments ended up in North Macedonia. In 2007, about 70 million euros were invested. In January 2009, the Macedonian prime minister Nikola Gruevski announced, that he expects more Slovenian investments in infrastructure and energy projects. Over 70 Slovenian companies are present on the Macedonian market. Both countries are full members of NATO. Slovenia has an embassy in Skopje. North Macedonia has an embassy in Ljubljana.
Spain		See North Macedonia–Spain relations North Macedonia has an embassy in Madrid. Spain has an embassy in Skopje. Both countries are full members of NATO.
Sweden		Sweden is an EU member and North Macedonia is an candidate. Both countries are full members of NATO.
Ukraine		See North Macedonia–Ukraine relations North Macedonia has an embassy in Kyiv. Ukraine has an embassy in Skopje.
United Kingdom	16 December 1993	See North Macedonia–United Kingdom relations North Macedonia established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 16 December 1993. North Macedonia maintains an embassy in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to North Macedonia through its embassy in Skopje. Both countries share common membership of the Council of Europe, the International Criminal Court, NATO, OSCE, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have a Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Oceania

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Australia	15 February 1994	See Australia–North Macedonia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 February 1994. Australia is accredited to North Macedonia from its embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. North Macedonia has an embassy in Canberra. Australia has an honorary consulate in Skopje.
New Zealand		North Macedonia is accredited to New Zealand from its embassy in Canberra, Australia. New Zealand is accredited to North Macedonia from its embassy in Rome, Italy.

Issues

Flag issue

File:Flag of North Macedonia (1992–1995).svg

The former flag of the former Republic of Macedonia (used from 1992 to 1995), bearing the Vergina Sun

North Macedonia's first post-independence flag caused a major controversy when it was unveiled. The use of the Vergina Sun on the flag was seen by Greece as territorial claim to the northern Greek region of Macedonia, where the golden larnax containing the symbol was unearthed in 1977 during excavations in Vergina by Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos.

The Vergina Sun, claimed by Greece as an exclusive state symbol, was removed from the flag under an agreement reached between the Republic of North Macedonia and Greece in September 1995. The Republic agreed to meet a number of Greek demands for changes to its national symbols and constitution, while Greece agreed to establish diplomatic relations with the Republic and end its economic blockade.

Under the Prespa Agreement, North Macedonia recognised (among other Ancient Macedonian elements) the Vergina Sun as a Hellenic symbol and agreed to remove the Vergina Sun from public display in all State-owned organisations, products, logos, etc. The implementation of this clause started on August 12, 2019.

Within six months following the entry into force of this Agreement, the Second Party [i.e. North Macedonia] shall review the status of monuments, public buildings and infrastructures on its territory, and insofar as they refer in any way to ancient Hellenic history and civilization constituting an integral component of the historic or cultural patrimony of the First Party, shall take appropriate corrective action to effectively address the issue and ensure respect for the said patrimony.Template:Pb—Article 8, paragraph 2 of the Prespa agreement

The Second Party [i.e. North Macedonia] shall not use again in any way and in all its forms the symbol formerly displayed on its former national flag [i.e. the Vergina Sun]. Within six months of the entry into force of this Agreement, the Second Party shall proceed to the removal of the symbol displayed on its former national flag from all public sites and public usages on its territory. Archaeological artefacts do not fall within the scope of this provision.Template:Pb—Article 8, paragraph 3 of the Prespa agreement

Constitutional issue

North Macedonia's first post-independence constitution, adopted on November 17, 1991 included a number of clauses that Greece interpreted as promoting secessionist sentiment among the Slavophone population of northern Greece, and making irredentist claims on Greek territory. Article 49 of the constitution caused particular concern. It read:

(1) The Republic cares for the status and rights of those persons belonging to the Macedonian people in neighboring countries, as well as Macedonian expatriates, assists their cultural development and promotes links with them. In the exercise of this concern the Republic will not interfere in the sovereign rights of other states or in their internal affairs.

(2) The Republic cares for the cultural, economic and social rights of the citizens of the Republic abroad.

The Greek government interpreted this as a licence for North Macedonia to interfere in Greek internal affairs. Given long-standing Greek sensitivities over the position of the country's minority groups, the government saw this as being the most serious of the three main issues affecting relations between the two countries; the issue of the republic's symbols, by contrast, was seen as being of much less substantive importance, even though it aroused the loudest political controversy. The Greek prime minister at the time, Constantine Mitsotakis, later commented that

What concerned me from the very first moment was not the name of the state. The problem for me was that [we should not allow] the creation of a second minority problem in the area of western [Greek] Macedonia [the first minority being the Turkish-speaking Greeks of western Thrace]. My main aim was to convince the Republic to declare that there is no Slavomacedonian minority in Greece. This was the real key of our difference with Skopje.

The offending articles were removed under the 1995 agreement between the two sides.

See also

• List of diplomatic missions in North Macedonia
• List of diplomatic missions of North Macedonia
• List of state visits made by Gjorge Ivanov
• Visa requirements for citizens of North Macedonia
• Foreign relations of Yugoslavia
• Macedonian Center for International Cooperation

References

• Template:CIA World Factbook

External links

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia