III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 602 

Supporting the agreement between Prime Minister Tsipras of Greece and 

Prime Minister Zaev of Macedonia to resolve longstanding bilateral disputes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 1, 2018 

Mr. MURPHY (for himself, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. COONS, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. BARRASSO, Mrs. SHAHEEN, and Mr. RISCH) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the agreement between Prime Minister Tsipras 

of Greece and Prime Minister Zaev of Macedonia to 

resolve longstanding bilateral disputes. 

Whereas, on June 17, 2018, Prime Minister of Greece Alexis 

Tsipras and Prime Minister of Macedonia Zoran Zaev 

signed an agreement to officially change the constitutional name of the ‘‘Republic of Macedonia’’ to the ‘‘Republic of North Macedonia’’ and end a 27-year-long dispute; 

Whereas, on June 12, 2018, the United States Department 

of State congratulated Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev 

and welcomed their historic agreement to resolve the 

name dispute; 


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•SRES 602 IS 

Whereas, on June 12, 2018, the European Union’s High 

Representative for Foreign Policy, Federica Mogherini, 

and the European Union’s Commissioner for Enlargement, Johannes Hahn, issued a joint statement wholeheartedly congratulating Prime Ministers Tsipras and 

Zaev, their teams, and the people of the two countries, 

and further reaffirming that the European Union perspective of the Western Balkans remains the most stabilizing force for the region; 

Whereas, on June 12, 2018, NATO Secretary General Jens 

Stoltenberg stated, ‘‘This historic agreement is testament 

to many years of patient diplomacy, and to the willingness of these two leaders to solve a dispute which has affected the region for too long.’’; 

Whereas the agreement paves the way for Macedonia to begin 

accession talks to join NATO and the European Union; 

Whereas, on July 5, 2018, Macedonia’s parliament ratified 

the agreement to rename the country as the ‘‘Republic of 

North Macedonia,’’ and under the terms of the agreement the Government of Macedonia may hold a public 

referendum and shall pass a constitutional amendment to 

rename the country, and the parliament of Greece must 

vote on ratification of the agreement; 

Whereas Russia consistently seeks to undermine agreements 

that enhance European cohesion, broaden the NATO alliance, or strengthen transatlantic partnerships; 

Whereas the Governments of both Greece and Macedonia 

have accused Russia of meddling in their domestic affairs 

to undermine the name agreement, including by organizing public protests and deepening ties with nationalist 

organizations; 


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•SRES 602 IS 

Whereas, on July 11, 2018, the Government of Greece announced the expulsion of two Russian diplomats and 

barred the entry of two additional Russian diplomats due 

to their involvement in funding public protests to undermine the name deal; 

Whereas Greece is a longstanding NATO member and valued 

United States ally, contributing 2.6 percent of its gross 

domestic product (GDP) to defense and hosting United 

States Naval Support Activity at Souda Bay; 

Whereas Macedonia joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace in 

1995, joined NATO’s Membership Action Plan in 1999, 

and is one of the largest per-capita troop contributors to 

the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan; 

Whereas, on July 11, 2018, NATO allies formally invited 

Macedonia to begin accession talks to join the alliance 

under the name ‘‘Republic of North Macedonia’’; and 

Whereas, on July 19, 2018, Macedonia’s parliament unanimously adopted a declaration supporting the country’s 

bid to join NATO: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) welcomes the agreement between Greece 

3 and the Republic of Macedonia to resolve the name 

4 dispute and to strengthen bilateral relations for the 

5 benefit of both countries; 

6 (2) congratulates Prime Ministers Alexis 

7 Tsipras and Zoran Zaev, Foreign Ministers Nikos 

8 Kotzias and Nikola Dimitrov, their teams, and the 

9 people of both countries for this historic achieve10 ment; 


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•SRES 602 IS 

1 (3) affirms that stability in southeastern Eu2 rope is an important United States national security 

3 interest; 

4 (4) condemns efforts by the Government of the 

5 Russian Federation to undermine the agreement and 

6 supports United States assistance to authorities in 

7 Athens and Skopje to counter malign Russian influ8 ence; 

9 (5) urges Macedonia to continue implementing 

10 important reforms as it seeks to join NATO and the 

11 European Union, including those related to pro12 tecting freedom of expression, strengthening the rule 

13 of law, and fighting corruption; and 

14 (6) encourages the United States Department 

15 of Commerce, Department of State, and other rel16 evant agencies to support United States companies 

17 interested in investing in southeastern Europe. 

Æ 


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