Greece: Parliament approves Macedonia’s NATO accession

The Greek parliament ratified the NATO accession protocol for neighbours Macedonia – renamed North Macedonia at a session in Athens on Friday night, ending a 27-year old dispute between the two countries.

The ratification passed with 153 votes in favour, 140 against and one abstention.

NATO members signed the accession protocol with Macedonia on Wednesday, days after the Greek parliament endorsed an agreement between Athens and Skopje to change the Balkan state’s name.

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) will now be referred to officially as North Macedonia.