SKOPJE, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The so-called Prespa Agreement of June 2018 and the constitutional changes making the Republic of North Macedonia the country's official name entered into force on Feb. 12, the government of Macedonia said in a statement late Tuesday.
On that date, the "Final Agreement for the settlement of the differences as described in United Nations Security Council Resolutions 817 (1993) and 845 (1993), the termination of the Interim Accord of 1995, and the establishment of a strategic partnership between the parties" entered into force and this was duly published in the Official Gazette by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the official statement, the conditions for the entry into force of the requisite constitutional amendments, which were adopted by the country's parliament on Jan. 11, have all been met.
"The initial decisions in relation to the necessary measures and activities for fulfillment of the obligations arising from the Final Agreement and constitutional amendments shall be presented in a communique published by the Inter-Ministerial Working Group for fulfillment of the obligations stipulated in the Final Agreement," reads the press release.
According to the government's plan, the customs administration should put stickers on border crossing signs at state borders and airports within three days.
All institutions have two weeks to make the necessary changes in their printed materials, such as logos, memos, etc.
The Interior Ministry is to start issuing new registration plates in four months. Furthermore, the Interior Ministry should take measures for issuing new passports by the end of 2019. In the meantime, the authorities should stamp current passports with the country's new name at all border checkpoints.
The National Bank should draft a plan for the gradual replacement of banknotes.
"The traffic signs on international roads ... shall be replaced in two months," reads the press release.
Greece and Macedonia have been in dispute since 1991, when the former Yugoslav republic gained independence. Greece has objected to its neighbor's constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia, fearing that the name indicates territorial ambitions over the northern Greek province of Macedonia. Greece's objection has impeded Skopje's bid to join NATO and the European Union.
