Scepticism in Greece and Macedonia over proposed name deal

Greeks and Macedonians expressed scepticism today over a proposed compromise deal to end a nearly three-decade name row between their countries which has blocked Skopje's bid to join the EU and NATO.

The leaders of the neighbouring countries hailed a "historic" agreement on Tuesday to rename the tiny Balkan nation the Republic of North Macedonia after months of intensive talks.

However Greece's conservative opposition quickly branded the deal a "national retreat", while Macedonia's nationalist President Gjorge Ivanov stormed out of a meeting with the prime minister and foreign minister in protest.

"President Ivanov interrupted the meeting and left refusing to talk about the benefits of this historic agreement on the Macedonian future," Macedonia's government said.

The meeting lasted less than three minutes, officials said. Macedonia's nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party condemned the deal as "an absolute defeat of the Macedonian diplomacy in every possible way."
The breakthrough was quickly welcomed by the United Nations, NATO and the EU, with European Council president Donald Tusk tweeting: "Thanks to you the impossible is becoming possible."