ATHENS — Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev spoke of the evolving relationship of his country with Greece on Thursday, at a fireside chat with Kathimerini Editor in Chief Athanasios Ellis, at the Delphi Economic Forum held out of Zappeion Hall in Athens.

Zaev said a mutual trust is building between the two countries, especially after the signing of the Prespes Agreement in June 2018, which allowed North Macedonia to join NATO and to begin the process of applying for accession to the EU. "We are allies and it is an honor to have Greek armed forces guard North Macedonia's airspace," he said.

He also noted that he and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had built a very good relationship and collaboration, and that the Greek PM had sent supplies worth 2.6 million euros to North Macedonia. "We are a developing country and we needed help, and Greece offered it first," he noted.

Asked about Bulgaria's objections to its EU accession, North Macedonia's leader said that the problem in relations between the two countries was created by the other side, and an intergovernmental conference between them would provide that step towards resolution, which would benefit both countries.

Zaev also mentioned his relationship with SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras, under whose rule the Prespes Agreement was signed, and said they remain good friends and are open to new ideas and collaborations.

The international conference of May 10-15 is under the aegis of President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, and Athens-Macedonian News Agency is a communications sponsor (see www.amna.gr/delphi-VI).