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Macedonian PM says it is Greece’s turn to make history with name change deal

  • Prime Minister Zoran Zaev expects neighbouring Greece to sign the accession protocol for Macedonia to become Nato’s 30th member

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In this file photo taken on June 17, 2018 Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (R) and Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev raise their hands during a signing ceremony between officials from Greece and Macedonia at Prespes Lake. Photo: AFP

Macedonia’s prime minister says he expects Greece’s parliament to do its part and ratify the deal changing his country’s name to North Macedonia so it can soon join Nato.

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Prime Minister Zoran Zaev told reporters in the capital of Skopje on Saturday that he expects neighbouring Greece to be the first country to sign the accession protocol for Macedonia to become Nato’s 30th member.

Nato formally invited Macedonia to join the military alliance in 2008, but Greece vetoed the move, claiming that Macedonia’s name implies territorial aspirations toward Greece’s northern province with the same name as well as appropriating Greece’s historical heritage.

Zaev said that Macedonian lawmakers had “made history” Friday with their decision to back the constitutional changes associated with the name change.

“I know how difficult that was … we are putting the bitterness in the past and we are looking now proudly to the future,” Zaev said.

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He said he now expects Greece’s parliament to convene and do the same, and unblock Macedonia’s Nato membership.

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