Macedonia’s President Gjorge Ivanov said he will not sign a deal with Greece which would see his country become the Republic of North Macedonia. Ivanov said he would not sign off on the deal because it gave too many concessions to Greece, Politico reported. The two countries reached a deal last Tuesday in order to end a decades-long dispute. Athens contends that the name Macedonia represents a territorial claim over Greece’s northern province, also named Macedonia. The dispute has kept Macedonia—whose UN-recognized name is the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia—from joining NATO and the EU, organizations where Greece has veto power over admissions, like all members. The agreement is due to be signed by foreign ministers from the two countries this weekend, followed by a vote in the Macedonian parliament. If approved, Ivanov’s signature would be required. If the deal does not get agreement, it would go back to the parliament for another vote, but would still need Ivanov’s signature.
