Macedonia's parliament has approved a government proposal setting September 30 as the date for a referendum on a deal with Greece to rename the country.

Sixty-eight deputies in the 120-member parliament voted on July 30 in favor of holding a referendum on the question: "Are you in favor of NATO and EU membership, and accepting the name agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and Greece?"

Ahead of the vote, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev told reporters the agreement -- aimed at ending a long-running dispute with Greece that should help pave the way for Macedonia to join the European Union and NATO security alliance -- will "define the future of the Republic of Macedonia."

Protests have taken place both in Greece and Macedonia since their foreign ministers signed a deal on June 17 to rename the country the Republic of North Macedonia -- North Macedonia for short.

Macedonian lawmakers later voted in favor of the bill to ratify the agreement, which is strongly opposed by the main opposition party, VMRO-DPMNE .

The nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party also disputes the announced referendum question, saying the deal with Athens should not be linked with the country's EU and NATO membership bids.

The party's deputies did not attend the vote in protest.

"The question must be understandable, simple...it should state, 'Do you support or oppose the agreement with Greece which envisages a name change,'" VMRO-DPMNE deputy head Aleksandar Nikolovski told RFE/RL before the vote.

The name dispute between Skopje and Athens dates back to 1991, when Macedonia peacefully broke away from Yugoslavia, declaring its independence under the name Republic of Macedonia.

Neighboring Greece has objected to the name Macedonia, saying it implies territorial claims on the northern Greek region with the same name.

Because of Greek objections, Macedonia was admitted to the UN under a provisional name, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

With reporting by AP, Reuters, and MIA</s>Political chaos in Greece after name deal with Macedonia

Macedonia's parliament on Monday set September 30 as the date for a referendum on changing the country's name to the Republic of North Macedonia, a high-stakes vote aimed at resolving a long-running row with Greece and clearing the path to join NATO and the EU.

Skopje and Athens signed a landmark agreement in June to rename the former Yugoslav republic in an effort to break a stalemate that has poisoned their relations since 1991 and hobbled Macedonia's integration with the West.

Greece has objected to its neighbor being called Macedonia because it has a northern province of the same name, accusing Skopje of territorial ambitions and appropriating its cultural heritage.

While more than 120 countries, including the U.S. and Russia, have recognized the name the "Republic of Macedonia," Athens has voiced its protest by blocking the country from joining NATO or starting EU accession talks.

The referendum question approved by 68 out of Macedonia's 120 lawmakers on Monday does not spell out the new name clearly.

But it closely links the vote to the government's ambitions of stronger ties with the West.

On September 30 the public will be asked: "Are you for EU and NATO membership by accepting the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece?"

The nationalist opposition party, VMRO-DPMNE, which opposes the referendum, boycotted the parliamentary vote by leaving the room, signaling a rocky road ahead.

"The question is ambiguous and multifaceted, and above all manipulative," said Igor Janusev, a leading member of VMRO-DPMNE.

After the deal was struck between Greek and Macedonian leaders in June, NATO said Macedonia would be eligible to join the alliance if its new name is finalized.

The European Union, for its part, said that accession negotiations would not begin before June 2019.

But progress in resolving the dispute has been challenged by hardliners and large protests in both countries.

Athens has also accused Russia -- who opposes Macedonia's efforts to join NATO -- of trying to sabotage the accord by encouraging demonstrations.

Opponents in Greece are upset that the deal recognizes a Macedonian language and nationality.

In Macedonia, nationalists have branded the name-change as an assault on the country's identity.

Macedonia's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has said the referendum will only be "consultative" -- meaning that parliament could still vote to change the country's name even if it does not get a majority approval by the public.

If Macedonia does go ahead with the name change and revises its constitution, Greece's parliament will then be called to ratify the accord.

After declaring independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, Macedonia was admitted to the United Nations in 1993 under the provisional name of the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia".</s>Macedonia’s parliament on Monday set September 30 as the date for a referendum on changing the country’s name to the Republic of North Macedonia, a high-stakes vote aimed at resolving the Balkan nation’s long-running row with Greece and opening the door to its entry into NATO and the EU.

Skopje and Athens signed a landmark agreement in June to rename the country in an effort to break a stalemate that has poisoned their relations since 1991 and hobbled Macedonia’s integration with the West.

Greece has objected to its neighbour being called Macedonia because it has its own province of the same name, accusing Skopje of territorial ambitions.

While more than 120 countries, including the US and Russia, have recognised the former Yugoslav republic under the name of “Republic of Macedonia,” Athens has voiced its protest by blocking the country from joining NATO or starting EU accession talks.

The referendum question approved by 68 out of 120 lawmakers on Monday closely links the name-change to Macedonia’s ambitions of stronger ties with the West.

On September 30, the public will be asked: “Are you for EU and NATO membership by accepting the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece?”

However, the nationalist opposition party, VMRO-DPMNE, boycotted the vote by leaving the room, signalling a rocky road ahead.

After the deal was struck in June, NATO said Macedonia would be eligible to join the alliance if its new name is accepted by the public.

The European Union, for its part, said last month that accession negotiations would not begin before June 2019.

But progress in resolving the dispute has been challenged by hardliners and large protests in both countries.

Athens has also accused Russia — who is strongly opposed to Macedonia’s NATO ambitions — of trying to sabotage the accord by encouraging demonstrations.

Opponents in Athens are upset that the deal recognises a Macedonian language and nationality, while in Skopje a nationalist right has branded the name-change as assault on the nation’s identity.</s>Macedonia will hold a high-stakes referendum on a proposed name change for the country on September 30, lawmakers have decided.

Last month, Skopje and Athens signed a historic deal to rename the small landlocked country to Republic of Northern Macedonia, in an effort to bring an end to a 27-year bitter dispute.

Greece has objected to its neighbour being called Macedonia because it has a northern province of the same name, accusing Skopje of territorial ambitions and appropriating its cultural heritage.

Apart from resolving the long-running row with Greece, a name change would also pave the way for the former Yugoslav republic to join NATO and start accession talks with the European Union.

On Monday, a total of 68 out of the 120 Macedonian lawmakers approved the referendum question supported by the socialist government of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, which, however, does not spell out the new name clearly.

On September 30 the public will be asked: "Are you for EU and NATO membership by accepting the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece?"

The nationalist opposition party, VMRO-DPMNE, which opposes the referendum, boycotted the parliamentary vote by leaving the room, signalling a rocky road ahead.

"The question is ambiguous and multifaceted, and above all manipulative," said Igor Janusev, a leading member of VMRO-DPMNE.

A yes vote would involve more than changing the constitutional name, "Republic of Macedonia".

Zaev's socialist government will have to remove references to the "Macedonian people" as an indigenous race, implying ancient heritage.

He will also have to remove references to past struggles to unite all Macedonians from Skopje to the Aegean, implying irredentist claims on Greek territory.

Then, by the end of the year, Greece would have to ratify the agreement in parliament, and lift its veto on the country's entry into the EU and NATO.

Official entry would happen well ahead of elections scheduled for the autumn of 2019 in both countries.

Macedonia lies north of Greece, west of EU-member Bulgaria, and east of non-EU member Albania, which signed a cooperation deal with the bloc in February.

Macedonia and Greece have had a dispute over the former's name for decades.

The historic region of Macedonia, includes the modern Greek region and some territory within what is now the sovereign state of Macedonia.

The Greek region was the birthplace of Alexander the Great - born in Pella 356BC, northwest of Greece's second-biggest city of Thessaloniki - whose empire stretched from Greece to India.</s>July 31 (UPI) -- Lawmakers in Macedonia have planned a referendum vote for September to decide whether to officially change the country's name, and clear the way to end a long-running dispute with Greece.

With a slight majority, Macedonian lawmakers approved the referendum for Sept. 30. If public voters favor the change, the nation will rename itself North Macedonia.

Macedonia signed a deal last month to change the name to end the dispute with Greece that's lasted for three decades. Athens' concern about the name is it implies a territorial claim by Macedonia on the northern Greek province of the same name. The European nation adopted the name when it broke from Yugoslavia in 1992.

The referendum will ask, "Are you for EU and NATO membership by accepting the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece?"

A "yes," vote to the referendum would also remove references to "Macedonian people" as an indigenous race.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has called the potential name change "a brave, historic and necessary step for our peoples."

Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said both countries want peace and will move forward as partners and allies. If the change is made, Greece would lift a veto against Macedonia joining the European Union and NATO.

If the referendum passes, Greece would have to ratify the agreement by the end of the year.

There are critics to the change, however. Igor Janusev, a secretary general of Macedonian nationalist opposition party VMRO-DPMNE, said the referendum wording is "manipulative."</s>Macedonia to hold referendum on name change

SKOPJE: Macedonia’s parliament on Monday set September 30 as the date for a referendum on changing the country’s name to the Republic of North Macedonia, a high-stakes vote aimed at resolving a long-running row with Greece and clearing the path to join NATO and the EU.

Skopje and Athens signed a landmark agreement in June to rename the former Yugoslav republic in an effort to break a stalemate that has poisoned their relations since 1991 and hobbled Macedonia’s integration with the West. Greece has objected to its neighbour being called Macedonia because it has a northern province of the same name, accusing Skopje of territorial ambitions and appropriating its cultural heritage.

While more than 120 countries, including the US and Russia, have recognised the name the “Republic of Macedonia,” Athens has voiced its protest by blocking the country from joining NATO or starting EU accession talks.

The referendum question approved by 68 out of Macedonia’s 120 lawmakers on Monday does not spell out the new name clearly. But it closely links the vote to the government’s ambitions of stronger ties with the West. On September 30 the public will be asked: “Are you for EU and NATO membership by accepting the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece?”</s>Macedonia's parliament on Monday approved plans to hold a referendum on changing the country's name to the Republic of North Macedonia.

In a vote that was boycotted by Conservative opponents, 68 lawmakers in the 120-seat assembly backed the proposal by Social Democrat Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. The vote is to take place on September 30.

The name change would allow the former Yugoslav republic to resolve its long-running dispute with neighboring Greece and join NATO and the European Union.

The parliamentary approval follows a landmark agreement between Skopje and Athens in June, when the two countries agreed to rename the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) in an effort to break the stalemate that has afflicted their relations since 1991.

Athens has objected to its neighbor being called Macedonia because it has a northern province by the same name, and is concerned it may imply territorial ambitions.

The dispute has so far stymied Macedonia's efforts to join the NATO and the EU, where Greece enjoys a veto power.

Read more: Macedonia: What's in a name?

The proposed name change has triggered protests in both countries, with Macedonian nationalists calling it an assault on the country's identity.

The referendum question approved on Monday does not spell out the new name but underscores the government's ambitions of stronger ties with the West.

On September 30, the public will be asked: "Are you for EU and NATO membership by accepting the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece?"

"The question is ambiguous and multifaceted, and above all manipulative," said Igor Janusev, a leading member of the nationalist opposition VMRO-DPMNE party.

If Macedonians do vote for the name change and the parliament amends the constitution, Greece's lawmakers will then have to ratify the accord.

Each evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.</s>Macedonia's parliament has set September 30 as the date for a referendum on changing the country's name to North Macedonia.

 

 Macedonian lawmakers approved the measure with 68 votes in the 120-seat parliament. Opposition members boycotted the vote by leaving the room.

 

 Greece has objected to its neighbor being called Macedonia, saying it implies territorial claims over its own province of the same name. It has blocked the former Yugoslav republic's bid to join the European Union and NATO because of the naming disagreement.

 

 Macedonia Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, who was elected in 2017, has pushed for an agreement with Greece to solve the dispute. In June, the two sides agreed on the name North Macedonia.

 

 The referendum question that parliament approved Monday does not explicitly mention changing the country's name. It says only: "Are you for EU and NATO membership by accepting the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece?"

 

 Macedonia's nationalist opposition party, VMRO-DPMNE, criticized the wording of the referendum question. "It is manipulative," said Igor Janusev, VMRO-DPMNE secretary general.</s>SKOPJE, Macedonia — Lawmakers in Macedonia have approved plans to hold a referendum on Sept. 30 on a proposed name change that would allow the former Yugoslav republic to overcome a longstanding dispute with Greece and join NATO.

The two countries have been at odds for decades over the smaller country's use of the name Macedonia, which Greece says implies territorial claims over its own province of the same name.

In Monday's vote, 68 lawmakers in the 120-seat assembly backed the proposal by Social Democrat Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. Conservative opponents did not take part in the vote.

Under the deal, the country would change its name to North Macedonia, backed by a constitutional amendment. The proposed deal has triggered protests in both countries.</s>Macedonia: Parliament to vote on referendum on name deal

SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) — Macedonian lawmakers will vote on a government's proposal setting down details for a referendum over a deal with neighboring Greece to change the country's name to North Macedonia.

The proposals are expected to be approved Monday. Prime Minister Zoran Zaev's coalition holds 67 of parliament's 120 seats, and a simple majority is required.

Zaev has suggested the referendum be held Sept. 30 with the question: "Are you in favor of European Union and NATO membership by accepting the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece?"

The two countries have been at odds for decades over the smaller country's use of the name Macedonia, which Greece says implies territorial claims over its own province of the same name.
Lawmakers in Macedonia approve a government proposal to set September 30 as the target date of a referendum to change the country's name.