Macedonia PM says Greece agrees to discuss proposed name change after decades-long spat
The name of Macedonia has been a source of contention with Greece for decades
Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said he was ready to go ahead with a new name for his country to solve a decades-long name dispute with Greece and pave the way for full integration of the small Balkan country into the European Union and Nato.
But Greek political leaders briefed by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras rejected the Macedonian proposal outright and the Greek government itself, in a response to Zaev’s remarks, was evasive about the particular name proposal.
Zaev said that “Republic of Ilindenska Macedonia” is the compromise name acceptable to both sides. The adjective “Ilindenska”, meaning literally, “the day of the prophet Elijah” refers to a 1903 uprising against Turkish occupiers.
“With this possible solution, we preserve the dignity, we confirm and strengthen our Macedonian identity,” Zaev said, but added that final say on the new name will be put to a referendum.
Zaev reiterated that Macedonia has no territorial claims to its southern neighbour and confirmed the inviolability of the borders. “Macedonia is ready to confirm this in all necessary ways,” Zaev said.
Macedonia was a part of the former Yugoslavia and declared independence in 1991. Greece claims the country’s name implies territorial designs on its northern province of Macedonia.
