Macedonia Parliament Approves Country Name Change

Macedonia Parliament Approves Country Name Change

BELGRADE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th October, 2018) The Macedonian parliament passed on Friday amendments to constitution that allow the country to change its name to the Republic of North Macedonia, according to vote broadcast on the parliament's website.

A total of 80 lawmakers out of 120 voted in favor of the name change securing the majority required to pass the bill.

The new name will allow the Balkan state to join NATO and the European Union, the process that Greece has been blocking over fears that the former Yugoslav republic might try to claim its region under the same name.

The agreement on changing Macedonia's name was signed by Athens and Skopje in June.