Clashes erupt over Prespes Agreement in Greece

Clashes between demonstrators and police took place in Greek city of Thessaloniki, over Prespes Agreement which recognizes the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as 'North Macedonia'.

Iran Press/Europe: A protest against the Prespes Agreement in the Greek city of Thessaloniki resulted in chaos on Sunday, with clashes between demonstrators and police taking place outside Thessaloniki Concert Hall.

Protesters confronted the police forces and blockaded roads, halting drivers and yelling "traitors". Many were later arrested, Associated Press reported.

The protest was held two days after the Greek Parliament narrowly passed a bill approving Macedonia's name change to the Republic of North Macedonia to distinguish Greece's northern neighbor from the Greek territory with the same name in Athens on Friday.

Greece and Macedonia have taken a major step towards resolving a 28-year-old dispute over the latter's name by signing an agreement.

The settlement seeks to end a 28-year old row between Athens and Skopje over the use of the term 'Macedonia' by renaming the tiny Balkan state 'Republic of North Macedonia; to differentiate it from Greece's northern province of Macedonia. Greece's European Union allies welcomed the ratification.

The Republic of Cyprus said that the Prespes Agreement, which recognizes the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as 'North Macedonia' is a great step toward normalizing neighborly relations in the Balkans.

Cypriot government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said that with Friday’s decision by the Greek Parliament “a historical agreement has been concluded.”

The agreement has triggered a storm of protest in both countries. In Athens, opposition parties filed a motion of no confidence in Greek government, angered at what they described as a national sellout. 101/201

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