Republic of Northern Macedonia: Agreement between Greeks and Macedonia for solving name dispute

[Böri]

The prime ministers of Greece and Macedonia say they have agreed on "Republic of Northern Macedonia" as the new name for the Balkan country, ending a bitter 27-year dispute that had prevented the former Yugoslav republic from joining international institutions such as NATO.

Greece's Alexis Tsipras and Macedonia's Zoran Zaev made the announcements shortly after speaking by phone.

The new name — which in Macedonian is Severna Makedonija — will be used both domestically and internationally, while Macedonia will also amend its constitution as part of the deal.

Greece had long demanded that Macedonia change or modify its name to avoid any claim to the territory and ancient heritage of Greece's northern region of Macedonia — birthplace of ancient warrior king Alexander the Great.

"There is no way back," Mr Zaev told a news conference as he explained the decision.

"We have been solving a two-and-a-half decade dispute … that has been drowning the country," he said, adding that the deal "will strengthen the Macedonian identity".

Mr Tsipras said the deal dictates "a clear distinction between Greek Macedonia and our northern neighbours".

"I'm happy because we have a good deal which covers all the preconditions set by the Greek side," he told Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos during a televised meeting.

"[The deal] puts an end to the irredentism which their current constitutional name implies."

He added that Macedonia "cannot and will not be able in the future to claim any connection with the ancient Greek civilisation of Macedonia".

The dispute over the "Macedonia" name had been a thorn in relations of the two countries at least since 1991, when Macedonia broke away from former Yugoslavia, declaring its independence under the name Republic of Macedonia.

Athens, which has a northern region also called Macedonia bordering on the ex-Yugoslav republic, objected to the name, demanding it be changed.

The row has stymied Macedonian attempts to join the European Union and the NATO military alliance in a region where the two organisations jostle for influence with Russia.

Mr Tsipras said the deal met the concerns of Greece that a revised name for Macedonia be a "compound" name with a geographical qualifier.

Athens and Skopje had been racing to agree the outline of a settlement before an EU summit in late June, though any accord would need to clear a referendum in Macedonia and win approval from politicians in both countries.

A NATO summit is scheduled for mid-July.

On the timeline of the deal, Mr Tsipras said that it would be first signed by the two countries' foreign ministers and then ratified by Macedonia's Parliament.

Greece will then back invitations for Macedonia to join NATO and start negotiations on joining the European Union.

However, Mr Tsipras said, this will be contingent on Macedonia completing the constitutional changes.

"In other words, if the constitutional amendment is not successfully completed, then the invitation to join NATO will be automatically rescinded and the accession talks with the European Union will not start," he said.

The deal was welcomed by EU officials, with European Council president Donald Tusk tweeting his "sincere congratulations" to Mr Tsipras and Mr Zaev.

"I am keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks to you, the impossible is becoming possible," he said.

AP/Reuters http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-1...edonia/9862810

[Böri]

İ don't know if that's the final mutual agreed name. If so, congratulations for Macedonians. Next step should be to unite both North and South under Skopje

[Sturmgewehr]

I would have preferred Eastern Albania, it is more realistic but yeah whatever, this is cool too, a lot better than FYROM

[Crn Volk]

There are a few hurdles in both countries

https://sputniknews.com/europe/20180...ing-agreement/

We'll see if it gets up.

[Div1]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...row-zoran-zaev

It's been cancelled, no progress nothing. YOU HAD ONE JOB MAQEDONIA. ONE JOB.

[Crn Volk]

Here's the full agreement;

http://www.ekathimerini.com/resource.../aggliko-1.pdf

[Crn Volk]

Referendum could be held at same time as Presidential elections in Macedonia...so problem solved

http://english.republika.mk/zaev-mac...pean-practice/

[Livin]

And they still are not happy with this name

[Papastratosels26]

İ don't know if that's the final mutual agreed name. If so, congratulations for Macedonians. Next step should be to unite both North and South under Skopje

Nah,i dont think that would be happen

[Crn Volk]

And they still are not happy with this name

Not everyone is against it



https://pogled.mk/%D1%99%D1%83%D0%B1...%D0%B8-%D0%BF/

Љубчо Георгиевски светлосни години пред другите македонски политичари: Да се викаме Северна Македонија

Јас апсолутно сметам дека Северна Македонија не е ништо страшно, не е ништо катастрофално по ниту едно прашање за Македонија. За жал Владата, дел од некои разни интелектуални структури сметаат дека е голема катастрофа ако Македонија го направи тој компромис и едноставно сум песимист дека нешто може да се случи на тој план, вели екс премиерот и претседател на ВМРО НП Љубчо Георгиевски во 2011 година во интервју за БНТ.

Ова е само уште една од низата предвидувања, но и визионерски храбри изјави пред сите други македонски политичари на претседателот на ВМРО НП, кој важи за еден од првите македонски политичари кои имаше храброст, на штета на себе и на својата партија, јавно да каже дека е потребно да се направи компромис за името, со конечна цел, членство во ЕУ и НАТО.


Google translate:

Ljubco Georgievski light years before other Macedonian politicians: We are called Northern Macedonia

I absolutely think that Northern Macedonia is nothing terrible, it is nothing catastrophic for any issue for Macedonia. Unfortunately, the Government, some of the various intellectual structures, think that it is a great catastrophe if Macedonia makes that compromise and I'm simply pessimistic that something can happen in that regard, says the prime minister and president of VMRO NP Ljubco Georgievski in 2011 in an interview for BNT.

This is just another of the series of predictions, but also visionary courageous statements before all other Macedonian politicians of the president of VMRO NP, who is considered one of the first Macedonian politicians who had the courage to publicly say to himself and his party it is necessary to make a compromise on the name, with the ultimate goal, EU and NATO membership.