FYROM hails Canadian move on name recognition
AP, September 23, 2007 2:26 PM
SKOPJE, Macedonia-Macedonia's prime minister said Thursday Canada has recognized his small Balkan state under the name Republic of Macedonia, despite objections from neighboring Greece.
Nikola Gruevski said the Canadian move was "excellent news," for Macedonia, which has a long-running dispute over its name with Greece.
"We have been informed by our embassy that Canada has recognized Macedonia under its constitutional name," Gruevski told Macedonian state radio. "This is excellent news for us and we welcome this move."
Canadian officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Greece insists on calling its neighbor the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, or FYROM, arguing that Macedonia alone implies territorial claims on the northern Greek province of the same name.
Athens said Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis would complain to her Canadian counterpart later Thursday.
"We are not happy with this decision," Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos said. "It is only natural that the hundreds of thousands of Greeks living in Canada will also be displeased with this decision."
Koumoutsakos said Canada would only use the name Macedonia in its bilateral relations, sticking to FYROM in all international bodies.
A total of 117 countries, including the U.S., have recognized the country as the Republic of Macedonia.
Macedonia gained peaceful independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, and was admitted to the United Nations under the provisional name "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia."
SKOPJE, Macedonia-Macedonia's prime minister said Thursday Canada has recognized his small Balkan state under the name Republic of Macedonia, despite objections from neighboring Greece.
Nikola Gruevski said the Canadian move was "excellent news," for Macedonia, which has a long-running dispute over its name with Greece.
"We have been informed by our embassy that Canada has recognized Macedonia under its constitutional name," Gruevski told Macedonian state radio. "This is excellent news for us and we welcome this move."
Canadian officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Greece insists on calling its neighbor the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, or FYROM, arguing that Macedonia alone implies territorial claims on the northern Greek province of the same name.
Athens said Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis would complain to her Canadian counterpart later Thursday.
"We are not happy with this decision," Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos said. "It is only natural that the hundreds of thousands of Greeks living in Canada will also be displeased with this decision."
Koumoutsakos said Canada would only use the name Macedonia in its bilateral relations, sticking to FYROM in all international bodies.
A total of 117 countries, including the U.S., have recognized the country as the Republic of Macedonia.
Macedonia gained peaceful independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, and was admitted to the United Nations under the provisional name "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia."
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