(ANSA) - SKOPJE, APR 2 - Greece's premier Alexis Tsipras arrived this morning in Skopje, where he will pay an official visit which is considered historical by both sides. This is the first visit paid by the Greek government to the Macedonian capital city since the independence of the former Yugoslav country, dating back to 1991. The visit was made possible by the deal between the two countries on the new name of the Republic of North Macedonia. Tsipras, who was greeted at the airport by Macedonia's defense minister Radmila Shekerinska, arrived in the neighboring country along with a large delegation of ministers who will sign numerous bilateral deals with their Macedonian counterparts. After talks with the Macedonian prime minister Zoran Zaev and the parliament speaker Talat Dzaferi, Tsipras will participate this afternoon in a bilateral economic forum attended by entrepreneurs from the two countries.

The name deal, which ended a 30-year dispute, unblocked relations between Athens and Skopje, removing Greece's veto on the integration process of the neighboring country into Nato and the EU. After the signing of the protocol of accession of North Macedonia to Nato, the next step will be the ratification of the document by all 29 member states, to formalize Skopje's membership of the Atlantic Alliance. The green light from Brussels to negotiate the accession of North Macedonia to the EU is expected by June. (ANSA).