Outline of the Republic of Macedonia

The year 2018 has transformed relations between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). The Prespes agreement, signed on June 12, attempts to resolve the Macedonia name dispute, so that Greece will permit FYROM entry to the European Union and to NATO.

Protests, violence, numerous meetings, campaigns, and top-level diplomatic activities - all of that preceded Sunday's historic referendum in Macedonia on the country's 'name' agreement with Greece.

Ever since Macedonia gained independence in 1991, its name has been the subject of a bitter dispute with its southern neighbour, Greece.

What Greece has gained from June's name deal with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) is that the Balkan country will no longer be widely referred to as "Macedonia" but will instead be called "North Macedonia," Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said on Friday in defense of the agreement.

The Kremlin's foreign policy increasingly seems to rest on the assumption that all countries are as corruptible as Vladimir Putin's Russia. This was evident most recently in Russia's alleged efforts to undermine an agreement between Greece and its tiny northern neighbour, the Republic of Macedonia, over the latter's name.

Very few Greeks, if any at all, are keen to see Skopje use the term "Macedonia." However, that battle was lost 25 years ago.

Macedonia recently also decided to rename Skopje's Alexander the Great Airport. This is taking place amid negotiations with Greec, aimed at resolving the decades-long dispute between the two countries over the name of Macedonia.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said on Monday that he would visit Skopje "in the next few days" and bring with him a proposal to resolve the dispute.

People display Greek flags during a demonstartion near the parliament on Feb 4, calling on the government not to back up in a row with Macedonia.

Protesters from across Greece converged Sunday on Athens' main square outside parliament to protest a potential Greek compromise in a dispute with neighboring Macedonia over the former Yugoslav republic's official name.

Organizers claim that 400,000 people gathered on Sunday, while the police unofficially estimated the crowd at 100,000, the AP reported.

The deputy prime minister of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) expressed optimism on Thursday over renewed efforts to resolve a decades-long dispute with neighboring Greece over the Balkan country's name that has kept it out of NATO.