The Greek foreign ministry on Thursday lodged a demarche with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , pointing to a controversial new neo-classical style arch in the central square of Skopje adorned with what Athens charges are irredentist depictions.

Additionally, the arch features a reproduction of the 16-ray Vergina Sun -- alternately known as the Star of Vergina -- the same Hellenic symbol that the one-time Yugoslav province unceremoniously removed from the neophyte state's flag in 1995.

Referring to the alleged irredentist scenes and the appearance of the Vergina Sun, Athens pointed to a violation of the September 1995 Interim Agreement, and specifically to the principle of good neighbourly relations.

Amb. Alexandra Papadopoulou, the head of Greece’s liaison office in Skopje, in fact cited what she called a series of recent actions aimed at no less than historical falsification, a policy targeting Greece and other neighbouring countries, a statement read.

“Greece has repeatedly underlined that such actions, apart from violating the Interim Accord and the principle of good neighbourly relations - an essential precondition for the neighbouring country’s European perspective - are also dangerous and constitute a threat to the stability of the Balkan region, which has, already in the past, suffered in the name of nationalism."

Finally, the Greek foreign ministry called on the Skopje government to undertake corrective measures to rectify the aforementioned actions.