Now, it was hoped the agreement could be a new beginning for the neighbors in south-east Europe. But, just hours after the deal was signed, opposition leaders in the newly-named country started protesting. They vow to reject the accord, which they label as treason. CGTN's Aljosa Milenkovic reports.

As news of the signing of the agreement reached Bitola, protesters here started gearing up. They staged a ritual funeral procession through the city center to show their sadness for the new name of the small Balkan nation: the Republic of North Macedonia. Behind them, the leader of Macedonia's largest opposition party, the VMRO-DPMNE, Hristijan Mickoski, followed by thousands of supporters. All of them to say they will not accept the deal, and that they don't want the current name of the country to change. This is an emotional time for many.

"My great grandfather was Macedonian. His great grandfather was Macedonian, my children are Macedonian, and I'd like my grandsons to be Macedonians. Which other country, besides us would ever change its name? Is there such a country? I don't think so. And why we need to be first to give up our name?"

"This is absolute catastrophe, capitulation, total destruction of Macedonia. This will be different country from tomorrow. This is not what we were building so far. Catastrophe."

The party leader was the only speaker at the rally, and he demanded the deal not just be scrapped, but also the current government leaders step down.

"In this dark tunnel for us, one thing is for sure, Zaev has to go down, so Macedonia can rise. That's the main goal. Zaev to fall, so Macedonia can rise."

Mickoski said his party will not support the agreement in the Macedonian parliament. And without that support, this deal cannot be ratified. Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov promised to veto the name deal, signaling a difficult time ahead for the government.

ALJOSA MILENKOVIC BITOLA "Although the show is over here in Bitola with workers behind me already tearing the stage down, actual work and struggle for getting this deal approved by the Macedonian people has just begun. But judging by the popular response, it will be tough job for the government to persuade the nation that this is a good deal for Macedonia. Aljosa Milenkovic, CGTN, Bitola."