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Greece, Macedonia sign historic deal to end name row

PRESPES/ BITOLA:Greece and Macedonia defied protests and set aside three decades of dispute on Sunday as they agreed on a new name for the Balkan state, potentially paving the way for Macedonia’s admission to the European Union and NATO.

Greece, Macedonia sign historic deal to end name row

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras and Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev before the signing of an accord in the village of Psarades, in Prespes. Reuters



PRESPES/ BITOLA, June 17 

Greece and Macedonia defied protests and set aside three decades of dispute on Sunday as they agreed on a new name for the Balkan state, potentially paving the way for Macedonia’s admission to the European Union and NATO.

The foreign ministers of Greece and Macedonia signed an accord to rename the former Yugoslav republic the “Republic of North Macedonia,” despite a storm of protest over a deal seen as a national sellout by some on both sides.

In the idyllic setting of Prespes, a lake region that borders Greece, Macedonia and Albania, officials from the two countries embraced, shook hands and penned a deal in the presence of European and United Nations officials.

The agreement still requires the approval of both parliaments and a referendum in Macedonia. That approval is far from assured, as it faces stiff opposition from the Greek public, and Macedonia’s president has vowed to block the deal. “We have a historic responsibility that this deal is not held in abeyance, and I am confident that we will manage it,” Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said as he and his Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev received a standing ovation from guests at the lakeside ceremony.

Tsipras survived a no-confidence vote mounted by Greece’s opposition in Parliament on Saturday, but the depth of public emotion against the deal is strong.

In the Macedonian city of Bitola not far from the Greek border, protesters wrapped in national flags chanted “This is Macedonia” and began to march across the city.

“This shameful deal will not pass, we will defend Macedonia’s name and pride,” said Petre Filipovski, 40, dressed in the trademark red T-thirt of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE party.

In the Greek village of Pisoderi, protesters carried a giant Greek flag and one group clashed with riot police on a mountain slope as they tried to break the cordon. Others chanted the Greek national anthem.

Up to 70%  of Greeks object to the compromise, an opinion poll by the Proto Thema newspaper showed on Saturday. In Psarades, the tiny lakeside community where the deal was signed, the village church bell tolled in mourning, draped in a Greek flag.

Others might object, too. “One big concern is Russia. Moscow has noticeably refused to endorse the agreement. It knows that this will see Macedonia join NATO,” said James Ker-Lindsay, professor of politics and policy at St. Mary’s University in London.

“There will be fears that Russia may now try to somehow influence the vote,” Ker-Lindsay sadi. “Given recent allegations of Moscow’s involvement in other elections and referendums, this will be a real concern for NATO and the EU.” Under the deal, Greece will lift its objections to the renamed nation joining the EU and NATO. “Our two countries have to turn from the past and look to the future,” Zaev said. “We were bold enough to take a step forward.” — Reuters

Two sides in dispute since 1991

  • Athens has objected to its neighbour being called Macedonia since 1991 because it has its own northern province of the same name, which in ancient times was the cradle of Alexander the Great’s empire, a source of intense pride for modern-day Greeks
  • After 27 years of talks, and many protests, they have settled on the name Republic of North Macedonia, or Severna Makedonija in Macedonian. Greece had objected to the name Macedonia, fearing territorial claims on its eponymous northern region
  • The subject is an emotional one for many Greeks. On Saturday, thousands of protesters outside Parliament building shouted “Traitor, traitor!” as lawmakers debated inside. During the 4th Century BC, the Macedonia of Alexander ruled all of Greece and much beyond it

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