North Macedonia’s new president reignites a spat with Greece at her inauguration ceremony

By KONSTANTIN TESTORIDES
Associated Press

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova has been sworn as the first female president of North Macedonia and has immediately reignited a diplomatic spat with neighboring Greece. Siljanovska-Davkova referred to her country as “Macedonia” at the ceremony in the country’s parliament on Sunday rather than the constitutional name “North Macedonia.” This prompted Greece’s ambassador to leave the inauguration ceremony. The Greek Foreign Ministry later issued a statement saying that the new president’s actions violated an agreement between the two nations and put in danger both bilateral relations and North Macedonia’s prospects of joining the European Union.