Changing the constitution of FYROM

As talks aimed at resolving the name dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) intensify, it has to be understood by all sides that any name that is agreed should be used domestically as well as internationally.

That is not some "maximalist" demand on Greece's part. Agreeing on two separate names, one to be used at home and one internationally, would not prove useful, for practical as well as symbolic reasons.

Simply adopting a composite name for certain international actions and procedures will not suffice. The people of FYROM also need to embrace the essence of a name change - to accept and use the composite name. That is the only way to prevent nasty surprises that could damage bilateral ties at some point in the future and, by extension, stability in the region. In other words, a change in the Balkan country's constitutional name...