Greece signs name change agreement with FYROM

Alexis Tsipras called Zoran Zaev “friend and neighbor” and said: “We are in our own rendezvous with history, we are where the winners and losers have gone by. We are here to confront the burden of our own history. We are both here to do our patriotic duty, we do not meet here to mourn the defeats of the past”.

Mr. Tsipras went on saying, “we must walk together in a new era of security. Today’s signature sets the foundations for this new era. When we met with Zoran in Davos it was very cold. For 25 years this cold has been in the relations of our countries. Few believed that we could do it “.

He thanked the two Foreign Ministers and Mr Nimetz and said he was happy that the agreement was signed on his birthday.

Zaev took off his necktie and offered it to Tsipras, who has vowed to wear one only if Greece exits its economic woes (i.e. never). Tsipras, obviously baffled folded it and put it in his pocket.

Despite the fact that there was considerable mobilization to protest at the site of the signing, protesters were stopped far from the araea by police. Tension ensued which quickly flared up to violence. Police used  tear gas grenades without any clear reason. In the ensuing melee, at least 17 people were injured, among them 10 police.