Greece, Macedonia sign pact to change ex-Yugoslav republic's name

Greece and Macedonia set aside three decades of dispute onSunday as they agreed on a new name for the former Yugoslavrepublic, paving the way for its possible admission to the
European Union and NATO.

The foreign ministers of the two countries signed an accordto rename the former Yugoslav republic the "Republic of NorthMacedonia", despite a storm of protest over a deal seen as anational sellout by some on both sides.

In the idyllic setting of Prespes, a lake region thatborders Greece, Macedonia and Albania, leaders from the twocountries embraced and shook hands in the presence of European
and United Nations officials.

The agreement still requires the approval of bothparliaments and a referendum in Macedonia. That approval is farfrom assured, as it faces stiff opposition from the Greek
public, and Macedonia's president has vowed to block the deal.

"Very few believed we would be able to leave behind 26 yearsof unfruitful dispute," Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsiprassaid.

Standing ovation after signing

"We have a historic responsibility that this deal is notheld in abeyance," Tsipras said as he and his Macedoniancounterpart Zoran Zaev received a standing ovation.

Tsipras survived a no-confidence vote mounted by theopposition in parliament on Saturday.

But up to 70 percent of Greeks object to the namecompromise, an opinion poll by the Proto Thema newspaper showedon Saturday. In Psarades, the tiny lakeside community where thedeal was signed, the church bell tolled in mourning, draped in aGreek flag.

Some 30 kilometresaway in the Greek village of Pisoderi,about 3,000 people rallied against the deal and at least sixwere injured in clashes with police who fired tear gas todisperse an angry crowd on a hillside.

"We don't accept anything, we don't recognise anything. Forus none of it is valid," said Costas Venetikidis, a protester.

"Macedonia is in our soul, that's why we're here."

Not far from the Greek border in the Macedonian city ofBitola, thousands protested draped in national flags, chanting"This is Macedonia."

"This shameful deal will not pass. We will defendMacedonia's name and pride," said Petre Filipovski, 40.

'We have moved mountains'

Following the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1991, Greece'snorthern neighbour took the name Macedonia. Athens refused toaccept it, saying it implied territorial claims over the Greek
province of Macedonia and an appropriation of ancient Greekculture and civilization.

Zaev, who arrived from across the lake on a speedboat, saidthe two neighbours had "moved mountains" by reaching the accord.It was "a dignified solution acceptable to both sides", he said.

Veteran UN mediator Matthew Nimetz, who has overseen talksfor a quarter-century, described the agreement as a fair andhonourable deal. It was, he said, an example of "how neighbours
can solve a problem if they really work at it."

"Today is my birthday," said Nimetz, 79. "I told my familythis year I don't need any gifts because two prime ministers aregoing to give me a big gift."

Athens had blocked Macedonia's hopes of joining the EU andNATO, objections it must now lift under the deal.

Others might still object.

"One big concern is Russia. Moscow has noticeably refused toendorse the agreement," said James Ker-Lindsay, professor ofpolitics and policy at St Mary's University in London. "It knows
that this will see Macedonia join NATO," he said.

"Given recent allegations of Moscow's involvement in otherelections and referendums, this will be a real concern for NATOand the EU."