Macedonian parliament ratifies deal with Greece over name dispute
Macedonia’s parliament has ratified a deal with neighbouring Greece signed last weekend to end a decades-long dispute over Macedonia’s name.
Politicians approved the bill that renames the country North Macedonia, with 69 votes in favour in the 120-member parliament.
The main opposition VMRO-DPMNE party boycotted the session.
The dispute dates from shortly after Macedonia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
Greece argued the name “Macedonia” implied territorial aspirations on its own northern province of the same name, birthplace of the ancient warrior king Alexander the Great, and on ancient Greek heritage.
