Greece's Defense Minister Panos Kammenos has threatened to resign and leave the government and his party "Independent Greeks" if Macedonia continues to implement the name agreement.
"If the Prespa Agreement continues to FYROM, I will resign from the Defense Department, taking the responsibility, will resign from the Government," Kammenos said.His reaction follows the Prime Minister Zoran Zaev's statements that the Prespa Accord guarantees Macedonian identity, language and culture, and that no one can deny to Macedonians their ethnic determination. Kammenos made these comments during a visit to the barracks of Greek soldiers, reiterating that the "red lines" can never be overcomed.
"You must understand that there are some issues that represent 'red lines' for us and as the political leader of the armed forces, and because of my public position, I cannot accept to remain a Minister of National Defense and at the same time to sign the betrayal of the term 'Macedonia'", Kammenos said.
By mid-January 2019, the Macedonian Parliament is expected to vote on constitutional changes, which will end the implementation of the name agreement, and this country will in the future be called "North Macedonia". But the deal will only be valid if ratified by the Greek Parliament.
The deal settles the 27-year name dispute between the two countries, unlocking thus Macedonia's NATO and EU accession process.