Macedonia and Greece: Deal after 27-year row over a name

[muriel_volestrangler]

After 27 years of talks - and many protests - they have settled on the name Republic of North Macedonia, or Severna Makedonija in Macedonian.

Greece had objected to the name Macedonia, fearing territorial claims on its eponymous northern region.
...
Its language will be Macedonian and its people known as Macedonians (citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia).

Significantly, they agreed that the new name would be used both internationally and bilaterally, so that even the 140 or more countries that recognise the name Macedonia will also have to adopt North Macedonia.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44401643

So if they get it past the Greek parliament, it could mean North Macedonia joining NATO and the EU.

[Glorfindel]

1. Seems like a reasonable compromise

Maybe the fact that it took them so long will cement the agreement and settle the matter once and for all.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Yeah - I'd got it the wrong way round about which country has a referendum

and which a parliamentary vote. Greece having the parliamentary vote is probably OK - I'd worry about a referendum there with populist-nationalist referendum fixing a la Brexit.

[Glorfindel]

3. Perhaps they could lend us some negotiators.

A collection of rabid hyenas would do a better job with foreign relations than tRump and his band of Nazi wanna-bes.