Greece is set to present Thursday its counter-arguments within the public hearing before the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Macedonia's suit against Greece for violating the 1995 bilateral Interim Treaty by objecting to Macedonia's application to join NATO.

The Greek team is led by Maria Telalian, legal advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and ambassador Yiorgos Savvaidis, whereas several foreign professors will present the counter-arguments. Athens University professor Emmanuel Rukunas is the Greek ad hoc judge.

According to information published at the ICJ website, the Greek side will base its defense on the counter-accusation that Macedonia was the party that violated the Interim Treaty. The crucial evidence presented before the court will be the NATO decision at the 2008 Bucharest summit, which was unanimously adopted, and therefore the Court should declare itself of having no jurisdiction in the case.

The Macedonian team presented its arguments on March 21-22, saying Greece violated the 1995 Interim Treaty, whereas its counter-arguments have no grounds. They stressed the Court should pass a judgment that would prescribe Greece to immediately undertake all steps to observe its commitments from Article 11, i.e. not prevent Macedonia's NATO application after its renewal.

Professor Pierre Klein from the Brussels-based Libre University said in his address that Greece's arguments, according to which the subject of this case is NATO's decision at the 2008 Bucharest Summit, do not hold ground.

"At the end of the day, the important thing is whether membership criteria have been met. The subject of this case is not the NATO decision, but Greece's to block Macedonia's accession, which was adopted prior to the Bucharest summit. The blockade was announced, Greek politicians even bragged with it, which represents a violation of Article 11 of the Interim Accord", stressed Klein.

He added that Macedonia does not ask for a change in the NATO decision, but acknowledgment of the article violation.

"This will have an effect on the suit applicant through re-obtaining of the candidate-status without any obstacles or obstructions by involving other issues. The court's decision will have a legal effect, preventing threats of blockades in other organizations where the country applies for accession", said Klein.

According to Sorbonne professor Geneviève Bastid–Burdeau, Greece's counterarguments that Macedonia is the one to breach the Interim Accord are ungrounded, as if this had been the case, Greece wouldn't have to wait until now but could have filed a lawsuit earlier.

In the introductory address, Foreign Minister and Macedonia's agent before ICJ, Antonio Milososki said the case was simple and clear and that 'accords must be respected'.

The first phase of the public hearing ends with Greece's elaboration on Friday. Team representing Macedonia will have the opportunity to respond orally to Greece's defense on March 28, and the oral hearing will end with closing remarks by the Greek side on March 30.

The ICJ verdict, which is final and binding for UN member-states and parties in the dispute, is expected to be given within six months or by the year-end.