Macedonia parliament agrees to change ｃountry's name

Opponents to the change of the ｃountrys constitutional name protest outside the parliament building prior to a session of the Macedonian Parliament in the capital Skopje, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. Macedonian lawmakers are entering the last phase of d

The Republic of Macedonia has decided to change its name.

It agreed on Friday to rename the ｃountry the Republic of North Macedonia.

The name change is the result of a 27-year dispute with Greece.

Macedonia declared independence in 1991 after the break-up of the former ｃountry Yugoslavia.

It became a member of the United Nations in 1993, but its name caused an argument with Greece.

Greece's largest region is also called Macedonia. The Greek government said it owned the name "Macedonia". Greece blocked its neighbor's attempts to join the EU and NATO over the use of the name "Macedonia".

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said the name change would, "open the doors to the future".

The name change comes after a decade of talks between Macedonia and Greece.

Just over 67 per cent of representatives in Macedonia's parliament voted for the name change. Eighty-one MPs voted in favor of the name change in the 120-seat parliament.

Opposition politicians, who opposed the agreement with Greece, boycotted the vote. Several hundred people protested against the deal in front of Macedonia's parliament over the past three days.

An opposition leader was angry over the talks to change the ｃountry's name.

He said: "Look how publicly, how openly, this trade is going on with Macedonia's name and identity - just like at a market stall." The next step is for Greece to officially agree to the change.

Article Source: https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1901/190113-macedonia.html

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VOCABULARY WORDS:

1. dispute / verb : to engage in argument or debate.

2. declare / verb : to make known or state clearly, especially in explicit or formal terms:

3. representative / noun : a person or thing that represents another or others./ an agent or deputy:

4. parliament / noun : a meeting or assembly for conference on public or national affairs.

5. protest / verb : to make a protest or remonstrance against; object to.

6. stall / noun : a compartment in a stable or shed for the accommodation of one animal.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1. How long had Macedonia been in a dispute with Greece?

2. Who did Greece block Macedonia from joining?

3. How many politicians are there in Macedonia's parliament?

4. Where did the opposition leader suggest Macedonia's name was traded?

5. Who has to agree to the name change?

6. Do you agree to change your ｃountry's name? why? why not?