Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs George Katrougalos discuss during a parliamentary session before a vote on an accord between Greece and Macedonia changing the former Yugoslav republic’s name in Athens, Greece, January 24, 2019. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis
January 24, 2019
By Renee Maltezou and Lefteris Papadimas
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek lawmakers have delayed the expected ratification of a U.N. brokered deal on a name-change for neighboring Macedonia as an at times angry parliamentary debate spilled into a third day.
The Prespes Agreement between Athens and Skopje changes the tiny Balkan nation’s name to Republic of North Macedonia, ending a 28-year old dispute between the two countries.
Greece’s parliament had been expected to ratify the name-change late on Thursday, despite angry protests and opposition from political parties calling the deal “nationally damaging”.
Although Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras appears to have secured the support of at least 151 deputies in the 300-seat house to get the deal approved, opinion polls have shown most Greeks oppose the term “Macedonia” being used in any agreement.
They fear it could lead to territorial claims over Greece’s largest northern province of Macedonia and an appropriation of Greek cultural heritage.
“There is an unprecedented high number of MPs who want to speak,” Greek parliamentary speaker Nikos Voutsis told journalists on Thursday as the vote was postponed until Friday, when it is scheduled to take place at 1230 GMT.
Several hundred protesters holding Greek flags had gathered by early evening outside the parliament in Athens, the scene of violent clashes with police on Sunday.
“We feel betrayed,” Zografos Stathakopoulos, 47, said. “Most Greeks don’t want this deal, but politicians are betraying us.”
Tens of thousands rallied against the deal in Athens on Sunday and members of the Greek Communist Party (KKE) unfurled banners on the walls of the ancient Acropolis to protest against the deal on Thursday.
Parliamentary speaker Voutsis said close to 230 MPs had wanted to have their say. Most are given six minutes to speak, a rule which has been routinely broken in the highly-charged session, which opened on Wednesday.
The accord has already been ratified by Macedonia’s parliament and Greek parliamentary endorsement is necessary for the country to eventually join the European Union and NATO.
(Reporting by Renee Maltezou, additional reporting by Lefteris Papadimas, writing by Michele Kambas; Editing by Alexander Smith)
