Macedonia’s President, Gjorge Ivanov, on Tuesday, refused to sign the changing of the country’s name which was part of efforts in settling an old dispute with Greece.
In a statement by the state agency, the president said he had no mandate to sign the agreement, which violated the constitution, and described the name change as a “criminal act” that violated the constitution.
Earlier this Month, the foreign ministers of Greece and Macedonia came to an agreement to rename the ex-Yugoslav republic the “Republic of North Macedonia”, all in a bid to resolve an old conflict that had blocked Macedonia’s entry into the EU.
Although Ivanov’s refusal may likely not change the agreement that has already been ratified by Macedonia’s parliament, the parliament is expected to override his veto with a simple majority in a second vote.
