Kosovo President Hails Macedonian Parliament's Vote On Name Change

BELGRADE (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 12th January, 2019) Kosovo President Hashim Thaci welcomed on Friday the Macedonian parliament's vote in favor of a constitutional amendment to rename the country Republic of North Macedonia.

Earlier in the day, 81 Macedonian lawmakers in the 120-seat parliament voted in favor of the amendment. The opposition Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE) boycotted the vote.

"The Macedonian parliament has showed courage, astuteness and conscientious approach, and voted in favor of a constitutional amendment, envisaged in an agreement reached [between Athens and Skopje] in Prespa," Thaci said on Facebook.

He added that Macedonia had made an important step toward "political stability, continuation of reforms and integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures."

On September 30, Macedonia held a referendum on its renaming after Greek and Macedonian foreign ministers signed a relevant agreement in June. While over 90 percent voted in favor of the deal, only a third of eligible electors took part in the referendum.

The country's new constitutional name will open the way for Macedonia's accession to the European Union and NATO, which has long been blocked by Athens due to the long-standing dispute over the use of the name "Macedonia," which is also the name of a region in Greece.