Greece, Macedonia reach accord to resolve dispute over Macedonian’s name

Athens says that the name implies territorial claims on a northern Greek province of the same name.

Greece and Macedonia on Tuesday reached a historic accord to resolve a dispute over the former Yugoslav republic’s name that has troubled relations between the two neighbours for decades.

Under the deal, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said his country would officially be called the “Republic of Northern Macedonia”.

It is currently known formally at the United Nations under the interim name “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”.

Zaev said the deal would open the way for the tiny Balkan nation’s eventual membership of the European Union and NATO, currently blocked by Greece’s objections to its use of the name Macedonia.

Athens says that the name implies territorial claims on a northern Greek province of the same name.

The accord still requires ratification by the two national parliaments and a referendum in Macedonia, a tough test for the leaders of both the countries.