Newly elected president Gordana Siljanovska Davkova during the swearing in ceremony when she said “Macedonia” instead of “Republic of North Macedonia” while the taking oath of office. Photo: Parliament of Republic of North Macedonia. This article was first published by Meta.mk on May 13, 2024. An edited version is republished on Global Voices under a partnership agreement. International public actors and some domestic political actors issued public reactions after the new president of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska Davkova failed to utter the constitutional name of the state, Republic of North Macedonia, during her inauguration on May 12, 2024. They consider this act as violation of the Prespa Agreement, which was concluded with United Nations mediation in 2018, ending the name dispute with Greece which lasted 28 years. From 1991 to 2018 Greece disputed use of the name “Macedonia” for the then newly independent Republic of Macedonia, prohibiting its entry in international institutions, including the UN, NATO, and the EU. The dispute was a major source of instability in the Western Balkans. It ended with change of the constitutional name, adding the geographical designation “North” to the name, to appease the Greek demand to differentiate the neighboring country from its region which is also called Macedonia. Greek ambassador to North Macedonia Sophia Philippidou left the session of the parliament used for the presidential swearing in ceremony in protest after Siljanovska Davkova said “Macedonia” instead of “Republic of North Macedonia.” And, while the Greek media filled their front pages with articles about Siljanovska Davkova's move, an important reaction came from the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who used X (formerly Twitter) to send a message that North Macedonia should continue with its accession to the European Union (EU) by implementing reforms and adherence to concluded agreements, including the Prespa Agreement. For North Macedonia to continue its successful path on EU accession it is paramount that the country continues on the path of reforms and full respect for its binding agreements, including the Prespa Agreement. — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 12, 2024 This reaction came only a few hours after Von der Leyen tweeted congratulations for Siljanovska Davkova as the first woman president of North Macedonia. The EU regrets the fact that the new President of North Macedonia did not use the constitutional name of the country at the swearing-in ceremony. Read the full statement 👇 https://t.co/AwzqGVLgqW — Nabila Massrali (@NabilaEUspox) May 12, 2024 The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued official reaction in the form of official announcement. This act is a flagrant violation of the Prespa Agreement and the Constitution of our neighbouring country, which has been brought into line with North Macedonia’s international obligations. In spite of the objections it voiced as an opposition party during the ratification of the Prespa Agreement, the current Greek government respected as ratified the international agreement, which overrides any other provision of law. In this context, Greece categorically stated that further progress in its bilateral relations with North Macedonia, as well as progress in the latter’s path to joining the European Union, depends upon the full implementation of the Prespa Agreement and principally the use of the country’s constitutional name. In a much-quoted reaction published on Facebook in Macedonian and Albanian, the outgoing Minister of Justice in the Government of North Macedonia Krenar Lloga claimed that Siljanovska Davkova made her oath null and void. ▪︎ Непочитувањето на уставното име на државата ја прави ништовна заклетвата на Силјановска. ▪︎ Mos respektimi i emrit kushtetues të shtetit e bën betimin e Siljanovskës NUL (të pa vlefshëm) ▪︎ Или повторување на постапката или функцијата претседател на државата треба да ја преземе Јован Митревски (претседател на собрание), како В.Д. ▪︎ Ose përsëritje e procedurës ose Jovan Mitrevski (Kryetar i Kuvendit) duhet të marrë funksionin e Kryetarit të Shtetit si ushtrues detyre. ▪︎ Disregarding the constitutional name of the state makes Siljanovska's oath null and void. ▪︎ Either the swearing in procedure needs to be repeated or the position of president of the state should be taken over by Jovan Mitrevski (president of the parliament), as acting president. A month ago, the US State Department spokesperson stated for Voice of America in Macedonian that US expects North Macedonia to uphold the spirit of the Prespa Agreement, and public discourse to remain fact-based.