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Greek MPs to vote Thursday on Macedonia name deal: ANA
ATHENS, Jan 21, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The Greek parliament will vote late
Thursday on a deal to change Macedonia’s name to the Republic of North
Macedonia, the Athens News Agency reported.
A draft name-change deal between Greece and Macedonia will be discussed by
lawmakers on Wednesday and Thursday before the vote.
On Sunday clashes between police and a group of masked protesters left
several injured in the capital as tens of thousands demonstrated against the
name change deal with neighbouring Macedonia.
According to the government, “the incidents were provoked by extremists,
members of the Golden Dawn, who attempted to enter parliament”.
Seven people who were arrested on Sunday have been charged, including two
Turkish men and one German woman.
Seventeen civilians and 25 policemen were injured, the Ministry of Health
said on Monday.
A wide range of Greek political parties, from the far-right Golden Dawn to
the Socialists, oppose the accord to rename Macedonia.
But it could nonetheless be approved by the required 151 deputies in the
300-seat parliament in the coming days.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ leftist Syriza party has 145 deputies and
enough independent deputies have pledged their support to secure approval.
Macedonia’s parliament backed a constitutional revision to change the
country’s name 10 days ago. But for the deal to go through, the change must
also be approved by Greek lawmakers.
Macedonia is a former Yugoslav republic, but for most Greeks it is the
name of their history-rich northern province made famous by Alexander the
Great’s conquests.
BSS/AFP/RY/1945 hrs