SKOPJE (Macedonia), December 3 (SeeNews) – Macedonia's parliament has endorsed an amendment to the constitution for changing the name of the former Yugoslav republic to North Macedonia, local news daily Vecher reported.
The amendment, ensrining into the constitution an agreement with neighbouring Greece signed earlier this year, aims to open the way for Macedonia to join NATO and the EU. It was adopted in a 67-23 vote with four abstentions on Sunday, Vecher reported.
In October, the parliament voted to amend the constitution in order to put into force the deal with Greece to rename Macedonia to North Macedonia.
The agreement was signed on June 17 by the foreign ministers of Macedonia and Greece to put an end to a dispute that has blocked Macedonia's accession to NATO and the EU.
On October 18, NATO said it launched formal accession talks with Macedonia, marking an important step on Balkan country’s road towards NATO membership.
Athens has blocked Macedonia’s attempts to join NATO and the EU for 27 years over the country's name. According to Greece, the current name Republic of Macedonia implies territorial claims on the Greek northernmost province of the same name.