ATHENS: A proposed deal to resolve a 27-year identify row with Macedonia has kicked up a political storm in Greece, with the government beneath fireplace over a compromise the principle opposition party has rejected as a "national retreat".
The conservative New Democracy party is predicted to file a censure motion in opposition to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's govt after it agreed to the tiny Balkan country being renamed the Republic of North Macedonia.
Greece has long objected to its northern neighbour being called Macedonia as it has its own northern province of the similar identify, which in ancient times was the cradle of Alexander the Great's empire — a supply of intense pride to trendy day Greeks.
Tsipras is to transient parliament on Friday on the settlement he brokered together with his Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev after months of intensive talks between diplomats.
"This is an agreement that benefits (Greece) and the region," Tsipras mentioned late Thursday in a televised interview on state TV ERT.
"With this agreement, we cancel out any attempt to usurp our history."
Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has also hailed the deal, which was introduced on Tuesday, calling it a "historic solution".
The settlement still must be licensed by way of Macedonia's parliament and go a referendum there, as well as being ratified by way of the Greek parliament, a procedure that can take months.
Macedonia hopes that resolving the sour dispute will assist transparent the way for it to sign up for the European Union and Nato.
European Council president Donald Tusk and Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg issued a joint observation on Wednesday voicing the hope that "this unique opportunity to relaunch the wider Western Balkan region's European and Euro-Atlantic integration will not be wasted".
The 20-article file is to be signed by way of the overseas ministers of Greece and Macedonia, most certainly within the Prespes Lakes district on the border between the two nations.
The file states that Macedonia's constitution will have to be revised within the yr for the deal to head forward.
Opponents to the compromise have called for a protest on central Syntagma Square in Athens on Friday and Saturday.
Much of the criticism in Greece has targeted on the govt's acceptance that the neighbouring nation's language and ethnicity can be called "Macedonian".
"The acceptance of the Macedonian language and nationality is an unacceptable national retreat," mentioned New Democracy chief Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
In Macedonia, the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party has also rejected the deal and President Gjorge Ivanov mentioned he would refuse to signal the textual content.
Ivanov can veto the Macedonian parliament's decision best as soon as, and has no energy to veto a referendum.
Skopje hopes to protected a date to begin accession talks at an EU summit in late June, and an invitation to sign up for Nato in mid-July.
The conservative New Democracy party is predicted to file a censure motion in opposition to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's govt after it agreed to the tiny Balkan country being renamed the Republic of North Macedonia.
Greece has long objected to its northern neighbour being called Macedonia as it has its own northern province of the similar identify, which in ancient times was the cradle of Alexander the Great's empire — a supply of intense pride to trendy day Greeks.
Tsipras is to transient parliament on Friday on the settlement he brokered together with his Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev after months of intensive talks between diplomats.
"This is an agreement that benefits (Greece) and the region," Tsipras mentioned late Thursday in a televised interview on state TV ERT.
"With this agreement, we cancel out any attempt to usurp our history."
Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has also hailed the deal, which was introduced on Tuesday, calling it a "historic solution".
The settlement still must be licensed by way of Macedonia's parliament and go a referendum there, as well as being ratified by way of the Greek parliament, a procedure that can take months.
Macedonia hopes that resolving the sour dispute will assist transparent the way for it to sign up for the European Union and Nato.
European Council president Donald Tusk and Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg issued a joint observation on Wednesday voicing the hope that "this unique opportunity to relaunch the wider Western Balkan region's European and Euro-Atlantic integration will not be wasted".
The 20-article file is to be signed by way of the overseas ministers of Greece and Macedonia, most certainly within the Prespes Lakes district on the border between the two nations.
The file states that Macedonia's constitution will have to be revised within the yr for the deal to head forward.
Opponents to the compromise have called for a protest on central Syntagma Square in Athens on Friday and Saturday.
Much of the criticism in Greece has targeted on the govt's acceptance that the neighbouring nation's language and ethnicity can be called "Macedonian".
"The acceptance of the Macedonian language and nationality is an unacceptable national retreat," mentioned New Democracy chief Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
In Macedonia, the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party has also rejected the deal and President Gjorge Ivanov mentioned he would refuse to signal the textual content.
Ivanov can veto the Macedonian parliament's decision best as soon as, and has no energy to veto a referendum.
Skopje hopes to protected a date to begin accession talks at an EU summit in late June, and an invitation to sign up for Nato in mid-July.
Political storm in Greece over proposed Macedonia deal
![Political storm in Greece over proposed Macedonia deal]()
Reviewed by Kailash
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June 14, 2018
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