Greek parliament ratifies Macedonia name accord

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Europe

01:19

Greece's parliament on Friday ratified a landmark accord that changes the name of neighboring Macedonia, ending a decades-old dispute and opening the way for the ex-Yugoslav republic to join the European Union and NATO.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras hailed the ratification by parliament in Athens of a landmark name change deal with Macedonia as a "historic day."

"Today we write a new page for the Balkans. The hatred of nationalism, dispute and conflict will be replaced by friendship, peace and cooperation," Tsipras said on his Twitter page.

General view of the Greek parliament before a vote on an accord between Greece and Macedonia changing the former Yugoslav republic's name in Athens, Greece, January 25, 2019. /VCG Photo

Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev congratulated Tsipras for a "historic victory."

"Congratulations my friend" Alexis Tsipras, Zaev said on Twitter. "Together with our peoples we reached a historic victory. "Long live the Prespa Agreement! For eternal peace and progress of the Balkans and in Europe!"

The name deal was hammered out by Tsipras with his Macedonian counterpart last year, secured the parliamentary majority needed to get the accord approved with support from independent and opposition lawmakers.

"After one year of negotiations, discussions and exhaustive dialogue, we are reaching the end of a tough and painful process," Tsipras told parliament during a heated debate on Thursday night, calling on lawmakers to approve the accord. Macedonia has already ratified the deal.

The settlement seeks to end a 28-year old row between Athens and Skopje over the use of the term "Macedonia" by renaming itself "Republic of North Macedonia" to differentiate it from Greece's northern province of Macedonia.

Macedonia has already ratified the deal.

The deal triggered a political crisis in Greece which forced Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to call for a confidence vote after the leader of his coalition party, Defense Minister Panos Kammenos quit in protest at the name deal.

Many Greeks fear the agreement could lead to territorial claims against Greece and say it constitutes an appropriation of their country's ancient cultural heritage.

Protests against the deal haven't stopped since the announcement of the deal, and turned violent this week. On Thursday evening police fired teargas to disperse crowds outside parliament. Smaller groups of people braved heavy rain on Friday to demonstrate outside the parliament.

(Cover: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and members of his government applaud after a vote on an accord between Greece and Macedonia changing the former Yugoslav republic's name in Athens, Greece, January 25, 2019. /Reuters Photo)

Source(s): Reuters