WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 16th February, 2019) US citizens in North Macedonia (formerly Macedonia) should be vigilant amid heightened risk of extremist-inspired terrorist attacks, the State Department said in a travel alert on Friday.
Earlier this week, Macedonian authorities launched the process of officially renaming the country to the Republic of North Macedonia in accordance with the Prespa agreement with Greece that took effect on February 12.
"There is a heightened risk of terrorist attacks inspired by extremist ideology in North Macedonia," the alert said. "Terrorist organizations and individuals inspired by extremist ideology are intent on attacking civilians, including US citizens traveling abroad."
In June, Skopje and Athens signed an agreement on the new name that was met with criticism in Greece and Macedonia itself. However, the parliament of Macedonia approved amendments to the constitution on January 11. The Greek parliament ratified the agreement on February 8.
Greece has its own region called Macedonia, so it has been objecting to Skopje's use of the name. The dispute prevented Skopje from pursuing membership in some international organizations, such as the European Union and NATO.
