SKOPJE: Macedonia’s parliament passed on Friday an amendment to the constitution to rename the country Republic of North Macedonia, as agreed with Greece to put an end to a 27-year dispute. Eighty-one deputies in the 120-seat parliament voted in favour. The countries struck the deal on the new name in June, but Macedonia will start using it only after the parliament in Athens also ratifies the agreement. At the start of the parliamentary session, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev told deputies the name change would “open the doors to the future, Macedonia’s European future”, and to joining the North Atlantic alliance. Several hundred people have protested against the deal in front of parliament over the past three days.

Source: Pakistan Today January 11, 2019 18:11 UTC