Greek and Macedonian governments sign agreement settling name dispute

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Author (Corporate)
Publication Date June 2018
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Summary:

Governments from Greece and FYR Macedonia announced on 12 June 2017 they had reached an agreement on a name dispute which had cause great division in the region. The deal was signed on 17 June, proposing the designation of 'Republic of North Macedonia' to rename the Balkan country.

Protests erupted on both sides of the border. The Macedonian President announced his intention not to sign the agreement, while in the Greek Government survived a no-confidence vote in the Parliament over this deal.

Further information:

The agreement needed to be approved by both Parliaments. In FYR Macedonia the document would lead to changes in the Constitution and would also be put to a referendum vote.

The naming dispute poisoned relations between the two neighbouring nations ever since the Balkan country declared its independence in the early 1990s. A new impetus for negotiations appeared as FYR Macedonia installed a new government. Negotiations continued for around a year before the announcement was made possible.

The name dispute has also prevented FYR Macedonia from advancing its EU and NATO aspirations. It was granted EU candidate status in 2005 but never started accession talks, partly due to this dispute with Greece. The same reason led Greece to block a Macedonian bid to become a member of the NATO alliance.

Related Links
Commentary and Analysis
LSE European Institute: EuroppBlog, 20.06.18: Macedonia name dispute: Problem solved? http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2018/06/20/macedonia-name-dispute-problem-solved/
Euro|topics, June 2018: Agreement in the Macedonia name dispute https://www.eurotopics.net/en/200342/agreement-in-the-macedonia-name-dispute
BBC News, 17.06.18: Macedonia name dispute: PMs watch as ministers sign 'historic' deal https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44511649
ECFR: Commentary, 14.06.18: Power words: Europe’s stake in the Macedonian name dispute http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_power_words_europes_stake_in_the_macedonian_name_dispute
On Secessions, Constitutions and EU law: Blog, 14.06.18: What’s in a name? http://www.skoutaris.eu/blog/2018/6/13/whats-in-a-name
The Guardian, 17.06.18: Macedonia changes name, ending bitter dispute with Greece https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/17/macedonia-greece-dispute-name-accord-prespa
ECFR: Commentary, 28.09.18: Macedonia’s looming war of interpretations https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_macedonias_looming_war_of_interpretations

News
Council of Europe: News, 13.06.18: Secretary General welcomes name agreement between Athens and Skopje https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/secretary-general-welcomes-name-agreement-between-athens-and-skopje
Kathimerini, 17.06.18: Greece, FYROM sign deal to change neighbor's name http://www.ekathimerini.com/229751/article/ekathimerini/news/greece-fyrom-sign-deal-to-change-neighbors-name
Politico, 17.06.18: Greece, Macedonia sign deal to end decades-old name dispute https://www.politico.eu/article/greece-macedonia-sign-deal-to-end-decades-old-name-dispute/
Kathimerini: The full transcript of the Greece-FYROM deal http://www.ekathimerini.com/229617/article/ekathimerini/news/the-full-transcript-of-the-greece-fyrom-deal
The Guardian, 12.06.18: Macedonia agrees to new name after 27-year dispute with Greece https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/12/macedonia-agrees-to-new-name-after-27-year-dispute-with-greece
Sputnik International, 13.06.18: Macedonia’s President Refuses to Sign Agreement With Greece on Renaming Country https://sptnkne.ws/hKYk
Balkan Insight, 13.06.18: Macedonia Deal Draws Praise Abroad, Anger at Home http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonia-name-deal-internationally-praised-criticised-at-home-06-13-2018
Balkan Insight, 18.06.18: Macedonia 'Name' Protest Turns Violent http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/in-pictures-macedonia-name-protest-turns-violent-06-18-2018
UN: News Centre, 12.06.18: UN chief welcomes resolution to 27-year-old disagreement over renaming the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/06/1012042

Official
NATO: News, 12.06.18: Statement by the Secretary General on the agreement between Athens and Skopje https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_155937.htm
OSCE: Press Release 13.06.18: OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Moavero and Secretary General Greminger welcome historic agreement between Athens and Skopje https://www.osce.org/chairmanship/384357
EU: EAAS: News, 12.06.18: Statement by HR/VP Mogherini and Commissioner Hahn on the agreement announced by Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev on the name issue https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/46384/statement-hrvp-mogherini-and-commissioner-hahn-agreement-announced-prime-ministers-tsipras-and_en
FYR Macedonia: President's Office: Address of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov http://www.president.mk/en/media-centre/speeches/5234.html
European Council: Joint press statement by European Council President Donald Tusk and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on the solution to the 'name dispute' http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/06/13/joint-press-statement-by-president-donald-tusk-and-secretary-general-stoltenberg-on-the-agreement-reached-by-prime-ministers-tsipras-and-zaev/

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