Macedonia’s president has said he will not approve a historic deal with Greece that would change his country’s name.
President Gjorge Ivanov said the agreement, which would rename Macedonia as the Republic of North Macedonia, gave too many concessions to Greece.
The deal reached by the two countries’ prime ministers is expected to be signed by their foreign ministers this weekend. After that, Macedonia’s parliament would vote on it, and if it is approved, Mr Ivanov’s signature would be needed.
If the president refuses to sign, the deal would return to parliament for another vote. Mr Ivanov would have to sign off on the agreement if it passes a second time.
The name dispute, which has prevented Macedonia from joining international institutions such as Nato, has roused strong nationalist sentiments and poisoned the two countries’ relations since the Balkan country declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
The two prime ministers’ efforts to forge an agreement faces strong dissent, with opponents staging protests on both sides of the border.
The issue threatened to split Greece’s governing coalition, and provoked a rift between Macedonia’s prime minister Zoran Zaev and Mr Ivanov.
New calls are circulating on social media for renewed street protests, with opponents on both sides arguing their prime ministers conceded too much to reach the deal. In Macedonia, Mr Zaev has said he will put the deal to a referendum this autumn.
Greek PM Alexis Tsipras also faces opposition at home.
His defence minister Panos Kammenos, whose right-wing Independent Greeks party is the coalition partner in Mr Tsipras’ government, said he would oppose an agreement in a parliamentary vote.
This would leave the left-wing prime minister dependent on support from political opponents to ratify the deal in parliament.
