Riots in the streets of Athens over the name Macedonia

ATHENS, (Patria) - Thousands of demonstrators gathered today in front of the Greek parliament building in Athens, protesting against the Prespa Agreement on changing the name of Macedonia, which is expected to be confirmed in the Greek parliament tomorrow.

Police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. Clashes also occurred between citizens and police, who were pelted with stones, flares, and paint.

Thousands of Greeks carried Greek flags. They do not accept the new name of Macedonia, although it has been officially renamed the Republic of North Macedonia. The dispute between the two countries lasted for decades because a province in northern Greece is called Macedonia.

Last summer, the prime ministers of Greece and Macedonia, Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev, signed an agreement and resolved the two-and-a-half-decade dispute. The Macedonian Parliament accepted the name Republic of North Macedonia on January 11. With this act, the country opened the door to accession to the EU.