Greek Embassy in Skopje lodges a démarche over a banner with a map reaching Thessaloniki and Chalkidiki, unfurled in the presence of North Macedonia’s sports minister

The Greek Embassy in Skopje lodged a protest with North Macedonia’s Foreign Ministry over the banner displayed by MZT Skopje fans at the basketball game against Iraklis. The game was played in Skopje on October 6, as part of the FIBA Europe Cup qualifiers. The banner showed a map of North Macedonia extending to Thessaloniki and Chalkidiki.

According to Greek public broadcaster ERT, the map presented as North Macedonian territory parts of Greece, including Chalkidiki, as well as parts of Serbia, Albania and Bulgaria. The banner was framed by the Vergina Sun and read: “We will defend your sacred name all over the world.”

What the Embassy said

The Embassy confirmed the démarche in reply to a question from the local website “360 Stepeni”. It said: “The Embassy raised the issue of the display of the banner, including the fact that, according to information we received, it was displayed in the presence of North Macedonia’s Minister of Sports. We pointed out that the content and symbolism of the banner run counter to the obligations and the spirit of the Prespa Agreement. The matter was therefore brought to the attention of the North Macedonian authorities through the appropriate diplomatic channel.” (The Embassy’s statement is rendered here from the Greek text as published.)

The reference to the sports minister’s presence is what gives the incident political weight. A fans’ banner in a stand can be treated as a matter for disciplinary bodies. But when it is displayed, according to the Greek side’s information, in front of a member of the government, the question moves to the field of interstate obligations.

It is also worth noting that the basketball club Iraklis filed an official complaint with the match commissioner and at the same time informed the Greek Embassy in Skopje.

The Prespa Agreement and the Vergina Sun

The Prespa Agreement, signed in 2018, provides among other things that North Macedonia removes the Vergina Sun from public spaces and official use, and that neither party makes territorial claims against the other. A banner with a map that includes Greek territory and the Vergina symbol conflicts directly with both points.

It is not the first time the Greek side has recorded provocative rhetoric or symbolism from Skopje. A previous episode that drew reactions was “Perhaps the Greeks have a guilty conscience”. The difference now is that Athens acted with a formal démarche and made its position public.

The next step is the response of the North Macedonian authorities, which has not been made public so far, and FIBA’s ruling on Iraklis’s complaint. It also remains open whether the sports minister will comment on his presence at the arena when the banner was displayed.