The full text of the agreement that was signed between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia outlines not only the proposed name change of the latter to “Republic of North Macedonia,” but a host of other matters including issues of nationality, language and even national monuments.
Detractors of the issue blame Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for “selling out” Greek history by acknowledging the existence of a “Macedonian” language and allowing the name “Macedonia” to be used by a country with no ethnic or historic connection to the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon.
Angry demonstrators in Athens shouted “traitor” and called on his resignation.
Supporters claim the opposite, citing Article 7 of the agreement, which they say differentiates the two entities and confirms the Greek heritage of the terms “Macedonia” and “Macedonian” and goes as far as differentiating that the language of “North Macedonia” comes from the group of “South Slavic languages” and that the official language and other attributes of “North Macedonia” are not related to the ancient Hellenic civilization, history, culture and heritage of the northern region of Greece.
“Then why allow them to use the term “Macedonia” and “Macedonian” if it’s clearly defined as a name that denotes something of Greek heritage, something the very agreement states that the citizens of FYROM clearly are not,” asked Nikos Antonoglou, a resident of Thessaloniki, in a message to The Pappas Post on the matter.
The complete text of the agreement in English is here.
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1 comment
He should be ashamed and resighn or impeached! Embarrassing!