Greece And Macedonia, What's In A Name?

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It seems Greece holds their culture and national identity close to their hearts, but that's not the EU way though.

Protesters clash with police in Athens as thousands attend huge rally to oppose Greek government's
deal with Macedonia on changing its name

'At least 60,000 protesters clashed with riot police in Athens today, using poles, smoke bombs and even Molotov
cocktails during demonstrations against a controversial name change deal with Macedonia.

The deal, which the Greek parliament is due to ratify in days, will see Greece's neighbour be renamed the Republic
of North Macedonia, following a 28-year dispute. The name Macedonia is a sensitive issue for many Greeks, who
believe that it implies their neighbour has a claim on the Greek province of the same name. 



Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has been accused of making 'too many concessions' over his championing of
the landmark agreement, and barely survived a vote of no confidence last week. 

Scuffles broke out after about 30 masked youths tried to force the closure of the parliament building, with riot police
responding by using volleys of tear gas to disperse the seething mob. Police estimates put the number of demonstrators
at 60,000, while organisers said 100,000 people had arrived for the rally.

Hundreds of buses brought demonstrators to Athens, with several coming from the region of northern Greece also called
Macedonia.At least 25 police officers were injured and seven people arrested, police said. 
A first aid station said two protesters were hospitalised with breathing difficulties. 

Some masked protesters also set upon journalists at the scene, smashing the equipment of photographers and cameramen,
according to an AFP reporter. According to the government 'the incidents were provoked by extremists, members of the Golden
Dawn, who attempted to enter parliament'.



'They attacked police with bits of wood and clubs, sending dozens of wounded to the hospital,' said a statement from Prime
Minister Tsipras. A wide range of Greek political parties, from the far-right Golden Dawn to the Socialists, oppose the accord
to rename Macedonia the Republic of North Macedonia.
But it could nonetheless be approved by the required 151 deputies in the 300-seat parliament in the coming days.

Years of tense negotiations finally brought the agreement last June between Greece's left-wing Prime Minister and his
Macedonian counterpart. The dispute dates back to 1991 and the break-up of Yugoslavia after Macedonia adopted its
name when it became an independent nation. 

Protesters are against the deal because they believe that any use of the name Macedonia in the neighboring country's name
is a usurpation of ancient Greek heritage and implies territorial claims on Greece.



Among the people who addressed the protest were former conservative Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, a member of the
Mount Athos monastic community and a Greek-American former politician, Chris Spirou, once a member of New Hampshire's
House of Representatives.

In northern Greece, farmers temporarily blocked the highway leading to the Macedonian border in solidarity. It later reopened.
About 300 anarchists staged a counter-demonstration Sunday. Police erected barriers to prevent clashes. After their otherwise
peaceful rally, anarchists burned a car with official license plates...'

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