The Greek Parliament has approved the agreement to Overcome the nearly three-decade-long name dispute with the neighbors of Macedonia. 153 deputies voted for the agreement, 146 voted against it.
Macedonia, the Republic of Northern Macedonia – this renaming has agreed to the Greek Parliament and a provisional end to a decades-long name dispute.
153 deputies voted for the name agreement, 146 against the compromise. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had negotiated the compromise with Macedonia, despite the large Resistors in the own country and may now feel as a winner. “For 30 years we were tied. The nationalism on both sides-sown hatred must finally be overcome.” called for Tsipras.
“With the name change, Greece wins the most Important: its history, its symbols, its traditions,” believes the head of government. He hopes to be able to with the neighbors now have a friendly relationship. “Bringing cooperation, peace and security in the Region.”
The name dispute broke out in 1991. At the time of Macedonia in the Wake of the disintegration of Yugoslavia was independent. Many Greeks fear territorial claims of the neighbors, as there is in the North of Greece, a Region also called Macedonia.
“Zoran, Alexis – well done!”
the EU welcomed The adoption of the agreement. “You had a fantasy, you took the risk, they were willing to sacrifice their own interests for the common good,” wrote EU great-grandson, Donald Tusk, in the short message service Twitter. “Zoran, Alexis – well done!”, he wrote to the Greek government, its leader, Alexis Tsipras, and his Macedonian colleague, Zoran Zaev.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker expressed in a similar way. The EU have supported the historic agreement between the two Prime Ministers from the beginning, they shared. “Athens and Skopje have, together, a new Chapter in our common EU future hit.” Also from Germany, Italy and many other countries wishes came directly after the vote of luck.
the North of Macedonia can now NATO Partner
Macedonia had ratified the agreement earlier, and can now be a NATO Partner. So far this had prevented Greece with a Veto. The economic relationships between neighbors could now get a new impetus, and overall, the hope is that in the whole of Europe, with the official end of the name dispute is an important part of the Balkans more stable.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called the decision an important contribution to stability and prosperity in the Region as a whole. He was looking forward to the NATO-accession of the Republic of Northern Macedonia.
In the dispute over the renaming, there were heavy riots in Athens.
resistance in Greece
of The night and the night before the decision in the Athens Parliament had again clearly demonstrated how strong the resistance against the name of the Treaty with Macedonia. Thousands of people demonstrated peacefully – some of the Right-wing tried it with violence and threw stones and fireworks at the Parliament building. “Macedonia is Greek and will remain so,” said a 19-year-old protester, who is against the agreement. Now the Greek province of Macedonia, Greece’s neighbor, recognized the country to the North, officially known as the Republic of Northern Macedonia, is also a Nuisance for the Conservative party, the Nea Demokratia. Your Chairman Kyriakos Mitsotakis criticized the decision sharply: “the patriot ignoring of the feelings of millions of Greeks,” he accused Tsipras.
Almost 70 percent of Greeks reject the new name, according to surveys. You the name change is not enough, because a Northern Greek province is called Macedonia. They criticize that, in future, the international Macedonian language and a Macedonian Nation would be recognized.
members of the Greek Parliament to discuss the renaming in the Greek Parliament.
government crisis in the run-up to
Prime Minister Tsipras was triggered by his approach, a government crisis. Defense Minister Panos Kammenos was kicked because of the Macedonia dispute and announce the government coalition with his nationalist party Independent Greeks (Anel) with the socialist Syriza of Tsipras. A vote of confidence in the supernatant Tsipras.
Yes to Macedonia-compromise – The decision in Athens
Michael Lehmann, ARD Athens
25.01.2019 16:36 PM
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