Tens of thousands of Greeks rallied in Athens on Sunday to protest against a deal with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia that settles a row between the two countries and is set for a vote in Greece's parliament next week.

Soon after the rally started at 1200 GMT, police fired tear gas to disperse protesters outside parliament as demonstrators chanted Macedonia is Greek and waved Greek flags.

The rally was one of the biggest demonstrations in Athens, over the Macedonia name agreement. Many Greeks believe the name Macedonia implies a territorial claim over their country's own northern region of that name.

The issue evokes strong emotions among Greeks who consider Macedonia, the ancient kingdom ruled by Alexander the Great, to be an integral part of their homeland and heritage.

The accord clinched between Athens and Skopje was ratified by Macedonia's parliament this month.

The dispute originated over Skopje's use of the name "Republic of Macedonia" when it declared independence in 1991. Macedonia and Greece struck the deal on the new name in June, Macedonia will be renamed the Republic of North Macedonia in exchange of the clearing of the path to its accession to  EU and NATO, thus ending a row over the use of the name Macedonia which started 28 years ago, but the change also has to be approved by the Greek parliament before coming into effect. 

(Cover: A protester holding a Greek flag in front of police officers takes part in a demonstration against the agreement reached by Greece and Macedonia to resolve a dispute over the former Yugoslav republic's name in Athens, Greece, January 20, 2019. /Reuters Photo)