Macedonian parliament approves country's name change

By Kole Casule

 

 

SKOPJE (Reuters) - Macedonia's parliament on Friday approved a proposal to change the country's name, bringing a decades-old dispute with Greece one step closer to being resolved.

 

A total of 80 deputies in the 120-seat parliament voted in favour of renaming the Balkan country Republic of North Macedonia - just reaching the two-thirds majority needed to enact constitutional changes.

 

The move could unblock its bids to join NATO and the European Union, long blocked by Greece, which argues that "Macedonia" implied territorial claims to a Greek province of the same name.

 

The two countries reached agreement on the name change in June.

 

But hurdles remain before the change can be formalised.

 

A referendum on the agreement failed to pass the turnout threshold of 50 percent, leaving it up to the Skopje parliament to settle the issue.

 

The procedure to complete constitutional changes is lengthy and requires several rounds of voting, with Friday's being just the first stage. The procedure should be completed by January at the latest.

 

"Today is a historic day for the country," Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said.

 

"Macedonia will be part of the European family our dreams and visions for better life in a better country will be fulfilled."

 

Once Macedonia formally changes the constitution, the Greek parliament will also have to vote on the deal.

 

Defence Minister Panos Kammenos, who heads a small right-wing party that props up the government in the legislature, has threatened to quit the coalition if the Greek vote goes ahead.

 

"A great day for democracy in Skopje," Johannes Hahn, the EU's commissioner in charge of enlargement, wrote on his Twitter account.

 

I congratulate all those who decided to walk on along the EU path."

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-10-20

They should rename it "Trumpadonia"

New World Order bags another country on their constant quest for a One World Government.

32 minutes ago, Chopperboy said:

New World Order bags another country on their constant quest for a One World Government.

Its nothing as dramatic as that , its simply the name .

Greece has a region called Macedonia and they are unhappy with there being a Country also called Macedonia

2 hours ago, sanemax said:

Its nothing as dramatic as that , its simply the name .

Greece has a region called Macedonia and they are unhappy with there being a Country also called Macedonia

Did you read the story? This means that Macedonia will now join the failing EU

1 minute ago, RandolphGB said:

Did you read the story? This means that Macedonia will now join the failing EU

Yes, Macedonia have been trying to join the E.U. for years , but Greece have also vetoed their application because of the Countries name is the same as one of their provinces 

Alexander III formerly known as alexander the great.... from Macedonia.

 

Edited October 20, 20187 yr by Jerry787
typos

By all means join the EU but keep your currency, then you control your economy!

It is not as simple as a name ,

it is an attempt by the Greek  neighbors to the north  to usurp  Greek history.

Macedonia was Greek, their culture was Greek, they spoke Greek, they considered themselves Greek.  Together they resisted persian expansion  heralding the western european ethos.. 

The symbol of the Macedonian dynasty a  was the Sun of Vergina a 16 ray sun.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vergina_Sun

Notice the flag of this newly formed republic a sun with 16 yellow and red fields?

so they call themselves "Macedonia" and their flag is a 16 ray sun

Don't think all of this is lost on the Greeks who are very proud of their history

For more click on the above link.

  

 

1 hour ago, sirineou said:

It is not as simple as a name ,

it is an attempt by the Greek  neighbors to the north  to usurp  Greek history.

  

 

I thought Greece was to the south of Macedonia ? 

 

Edited October 21, 20187 yr by Denim

22 hours ago, rooster59 said:

A total of 80 deputies in the 120-seat parliament voted in favour of renaming the Balkan country Republic of North Macedonia - just reaching the two-thirds majority needed to enact constitutional changes.

A sensible way to make major, permanent decisions on a country's future.

A conspiracy video has been removed as well as the replies.