SKOPJE: Macedonia is ready to add a geographical qualifier to its name to help resolve a dispute with Greece that has held up its prospects of joining the European Union and NATO, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said on Tuesday.
Macedonia joined the United Nations in 1993 with the provisional name “The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” because its neighbor Greece objected to the one-word name saying it implied a territorial claim to a Greek province of the same name.
“I would like the negotiations (with Greece) to succeed ... We are ready for a geographical qualifier in the name,” he told reporters in the capital Skopje on Tuesday.
He had pledged a speedy solution to the dispute last month during the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Most countries refer to the country that declared independence in 1991 from the former Yugoslavia as Macedonia. Diplomats say Northern Macedonia, New Macedonia or Upper Macedonia could be now acceptable to both sides.
Zaev also said his government has renamed the main airport and a key highway, which had both been named after Alexander the Great. That riled Athens as Macedonia was also the name of an ancient Greek kingdom ruled by Alexander.
Zaev said the airport will be renamed “International Airport Skopje” and the highway will be called Friendship.
“With today’s decision ... we are confirming our step toward building friendship and confidence with Greece,” he told reporters in the capital Skopje.
On Sunday, hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated in northern Greece against any solution that would include the term “Macedonia.”
Macedonia ready to change name and end row with Greece
Macedonia ready to change name and end row with Greece
German military imposes general filming ban to curb social media risks
- The new policy requires soldiers to seek explicit permission
- Violations of the rule could be punished by disciplinary measures
BERLIN: Germany’s military has banned staff from filming and photography at all its sites since late February over concerns that sensitive information could be visible on social media, a defense ministry spokesperson said on Friday.
The German military has increasingly been using social media to help meet its ambitious recruiting goals.
The new policy requires soldiers to seek explicit permission, versus the previous guidelines that generally allowed filming and videos.
The new policy doesn’t mean personnel can no longer present themselves on social media or similar platforms, “we are quite proud of that,” added the spokesperson.
Violations of the rule could be punished by disciplinary measures or even criminal charges, depending on the severity.
The Bild newspaper first reported on the reforms.
