Foreign minister resigns

Prime Minister Tsipras takes over foreign policy portfolio. FYROM takes first step to change its name

On Friday, in a first of three necessary votes, the Parliament of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in Skopje approved changes to the constitution necessary for a change of the countries name.
Greece and FYROM had signed the Prespes agreement in June of this year. As part of the agreement the government in Skopje will pursue changes in the constitution to rename the country to “Republic on North Macedonia.
Parliament voted in favour of the motion with 80 of 117 votes meaning Prime Minister Zoran Zaev secured at least 8 votes from opposition parties.
The successful implementation of the Prespes agreement and the country’s name change are seen as important steps on a possible path of Skopje’s way towards NATO and possibly European Union membership.

While the FYROM looks top be set on a course of approving the name change, there is political controversy in Athens.
Panos Kammenos, leader of the nationalist Independent Greeks party (Anexartitoi Ellines – ANEL) and Greek defence minister, announced that his party would leave the government coalition if the deal would come before the Greek parliament.
Independent Greek does not accept the name “Macedonia” in any form by another state outside of Greece.
The main opposition party, Nea Dimokratia (New Democracy) is also expected to oppose the agreement in parliament.

One of the main Greek negotiators of the name deal, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias stepped down in a surprising move on Wednesday, 2 days before the first vote in Skopje and after a clash with Kammenos.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was sworn in as the new foreign minister on Saturday before the President of Greece, Prokopios Pavlopoulos. Commentators in Ta Nea argue that Prime Minister Tsipras sacrificed his Foreign Minister to save his government coalition and stay in power.

Ta Nea: Decay

According to remarks by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, the European Commision has approved the next Greek governement budget without further pensions cut that had previously been agreed with the country’s creditors.
The final draft budget will be submitted in November and voted on in the Greek parliament in December.

Reuters: Greek PM says EU approved budget

The Canadian Embassy in Athen’s northern Halandri suburb was attacked early Sunday morning by around 10 members of the Rouvikonas (Rubicon) anarchist group. The attackers damaged the entrance of the embassy with sledgehammers and threw black and red paint to the facade of the building. Police was called but the attackers had already fled and no arrest were made.
The group that is first known to have been active in the summer of 2015 has executed similar attacks before against government buildings and embassies of other countries including Iran and Saudi Arabis.
The group acknowledged their responsibility for the attack on its website and announced that it was in connection with the business of a Canadian mining company in the north of Greece.
The Greek Foreign Ministry has condemned the atttack.

(Foto Source)