PM Tsipras in North Macedonia outlines joint projects: Making up for 30 years of lost ground
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Today, Greece and North Macedonia begin to regain the lost ground and to establish a deep friendship between the governments and two peoples, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Tuesday from Skopje, at joint press conference with North Macedonia Prime Minister Zoran Zaev after the end of their meeting.
Referring to the positive outcome of the Prespes Agreement signed between the two countries to resolve a long-standing name dispute which led to the visit, Tsipras said, “This Agreement has very strong foundations visible even to those who have recently cast doubt on it.”
“We have lost a lot of time, three decades’ worth, and we must cover that distance,” the Greek PM said, reiterating that the Agreement’s benefits will become more visible and convince those doubting it. The relationship built with North Macedonia, he said, is “a multilevel strategic relationship with great prospects but to move forward with our relations we must guarantee that it stands on firm ground.”
Tsipras, who is heading a delegation of ministers and business owners during his Skopje visit, also outlined infrastructural projects that will boost trade and communications between the two neighbouring countries.
“Without further ado, we are here to boost the following matters,” Tsipras said, elaborating among other issues the avoidance of double taxation of products traded between the two countries, by improving the cooperation of customs authorities in both countries, and the collaboration between investment and trade-promotion agencies like Enterprise Greece and North Macedonia’s similar authority.
Tsipras mentioned the key role of the port of Thessaloniki and its interconnection with the port of Piraeus for sending goods from Greece to central European markets through North Macedonia, and also announced a fast train link for both passengers and goods linking Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Skopje and Belgrade, terming it “a very important project for the region that we will very soon sign on a tripartite level between Greece, North Macedonia and Serbia.”
The Greek premier also talked of the border control modernisation and the creation of several border posts to facilitate and enhance the already rising tourist and trade flows, and said he envisaged a deeper cooperation to improve connectivity between Greece and North Macedonia in roads and flights.
Source: ANA-MPA