The past, the agreement and the future

A close friend of mine who produces a well-known brand of Greek wine in northern Greece, recently told me that his representative in Canada had repeatedly asked him to change the labels on his bottles, which explain that the wine is produced in Macedonia. Many consumers, the representative had said, were confused and believed the wine to the made in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

This is only one of many outrageous stories surrounding the name row with FYROM, which, following a 25-year stalemate, has resulted in Greece unfortunately losing the exclusive use of the name "Macedonia." The entire world - 140 countries - has already recognized the neighboring state under the name "Republic of Macedonia," while almost every foreigner who hears the word "Macedonia," assumes the speaker is referring to FYROM.

The agreement presented by the government of...

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