Macedonia adopts draft law on name deal with Greece

In a tense atmosphere, the Macedonian Assembly on Tuesday adopted a draft law proposal for ratification of a name deal with neighboring Greece, with 69 votes for the agreement and 40 votes against the agreement that renames the country the Republic of North Macedonia.

Macedonia, Greece sign name change accord

Shouting “traitor” at Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov, who made speeches in defense of the deal, opposition VMRO-DPMNE deputies vented their anger in the parliament.

June 17, 2018: Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras gesture before signing an accord to settle a long dispute over the former Yugoslav republic's name in the village of Psarades, in Prespes, Greece. /VCG Photo

Following the speech of one of the co-coordinators of the opposition parliamentary group Dragan Danev, who said the agreement is counter-constitutional and that this government wants to introduce deputies to participate in this genocide of the legal state, VMRO's deputies left the session of the Assembly.

While the debate took place, a group of several hundred opponents demonstrated outside amid a heavy police presence, calling on MPs to resign and join them in protest.

"Zoran Zaev (Macedonian Prime Minister) cannot sell Macedonia," organizers of the protest stated, appealing to other citizens to join as well.

Riot police move toward demonstrators during a protest of opponents of the preliminary agreement between Macedonia and Greece to rename the nation the Republic of North Macedonia, in front of the Parliament in Skopje, June 17, 2018. /VCG Photo

Macedonia is chasing a tight deadline for the ratification of the name deal in order not to miss its opportunity to get an agreement for the long-awaited start of EU accession talks on June 25-26.

Once the Macedonian parliament ratifies the agreement, Athens is expected to make the next move by sending letters to NATO and the EU, informing them that it no longer objects to the Republic of North Macedonia’s membership of these organizations.