What Do Greek Macedonians Think Of The Macedonia Name Deal?

Josh Friedman interviews locals in Thessaloniki, the capital of Greece's Macedonia region about the longstanding name dispute between Greece and Macedonia, aka FYROM, and about the recent agreement that may resolve the matter.

The report includes background information on the dispute, which largely revolves around Greek Macedonians alleging their mainly Slavic neighbors to the north are appropriating Greek history and using a name that, according to Greeks, does not belong to them. For years, Greece has been using its veto power to keep Macedonia, or FYROM, from joining NATO and the EU under its existing name.

Greece's government, however, has vowed to drop the veto following an agreement reached last month that would rename the country of Macedonia "North Macedonia." This agreement paves the way for Macedonia, or "North Macedonia," to join NATO and eventually the EU.

But Greeks living in the Greek Macedonia region are not happy about the deal. Watch below:

• News flash:
  The Macedonian parliament (in the country to the north) decided Monday that the national referendum on the name agreement that would rename Macedonia "North Macedonia" will be held on September 30.

Another report from Thessaloniki on the name issue is coming up this week. Stay tuned...