Greece gives Macedonia green light to join NATO

(MENAFN) The Greek parliament has approved a NATO accord with Macedonia for the admission of the former Yugoslav Republic into the U.S.-led military alliance after a deal with Greece ended a 27-year-old dispute over its name.

NATO members signed the agreement with Macedonia days after the Greek parliament authorized an agreement between Athens and Skopje that changes Macedonia's name to North Macedonia.

However, local opposition from Greeks worried the country was appropriating Greek heritage, the government of leftist Greek Premier Alexis Tsipras pushed the name change through parliament on Jan. 25

He said: "I feel we did our patriotic duty.. We did what is right."

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