Greek parliament approves Macedonia name agreement

ATHENS - Greek parliament approved on Friday the agreement reached last summer which resolves a 28-year old dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) over the use of the term Macedonia.

The deal was approved by a narrow majority in the 300-member assembly with 153 votes in favor, while 146 against and one abstained. The voting was broadcast live on Greek national broadcaster ERT.

Since 1991, when FYROM declared independence from Yugoslavia picking the name Macedonia, the same name as a province in northern Greece, Greeks protested, fearing territorial claims by the new Balkan state.

Under the agreement which was reached after marathon UN-mediated talks, FYROM will be renamed "Republic of North Macedonia" and the doors to EU and NATO accession will open.