Tsipras to talk politics, trade in Skopje, top businessmen on trip

Alexis Tsipras will be the first Greek PM to visit the newly renamed Republic of North Macedonia and his entourage of Greece’s top businessmen will, it is hoped, make serious inroads in discovering investment opportunities.

Tsipras and North Macedonia’s PM, Zoran Zaev, will sign a number of bilateral agreements.

Tsipras’ trip aims to allay fears and anger over the Greece-North Macedonia Prespa Agreement by underlining the economic and geostrategic opportunities created by the accord.

The PM is expected to raise the issue of North Macedonian officials violating the terms of the Prespa Accord.

He also wants to address the fears of businessmen in the Greek province of Macedonia who have deep concerns about any restriction to using the Macedonian brand.

Polls show that ruling SYRIZA will be trounced by New Democracy in northern Greece as voters will vent their anger over the Prespa Agreement because it acknowledges a Macedonian language and nationality.

After the Tsipras-Zaev talks on all bilateral and regional issues (including proper implementation of the Prespa Agreement), there will be a meeting of the Supreme Greece-North Macedonia Cooperation Council after which there will be a joint news conference with the two PMs.

Tsipras will also hold talks with the ethnic Albanian Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi.

High hopes for business conference, bilateral agreements

The PM will also attend a business conference aiming to promote investment, which in turn is expected to strengthen Greece’s leading role in the Balkans as the oldest Nato and EU member.

The bilateral agreements include one between the countries’ Civil Aviation Authorities, and another between the Greek Foreign Ministry and North Macedonian European Affairs Secretariat which aims to expedite Skopje’s admission to the EU, beginning with a date to start talks.

Sources say that representatives of major Greek business players will attend: Mytilineos Group, the Kontominas Group, and the Kokkalis Group will be among the business interests.