Seven police officers were injured and 25 protesters were arrested during yesterday’s protest in Skopje, Macedonia, following the agreement with Greece concerning Macedonia’s name.
The police used teargas against protesters who had gathered in front of the Macedonian National Assembly building. Labelling the deal with Greece as “traitorous,” the protesters attempted to enter the building, but were stopped by police barriers.
The protest followed the signing of an agreement between Greece and Macedonia that would change the official name of the country to the “Republic of North Macedonia.” The document was signed on Lake Prespa by the two countries’ Foreign Ministers, Nikos Kotzias and Nikola Dimitrov, in the presence of EU high officials Federica Mogherini and Johannes Hahn.
Though the name deal concludes a 27-year long conflict between the two neighbouring nations, opposition parties of both countries have opposed it, declaring they would not ratify it in parliament. The Macedonian president has stated that the name deal is not a victory for Macedonia, and that is why he will not sign it.
The following days will prove to be crucial for the ratification of the name deal between Macedonia and Greece.
