Thousands in Greece Protest Against Macedonia 'Name' Deal

At the protest, far-right leaders, Greek diaspora groups and clerics called against any UN-sponsored compromise name for their northern neighbor that would include the term "Macedonia".

"I feel that what they [both countries governments at the UN talks] are trying to do is not right and that's why I'm here" Dimitris, 23, from the town of Edessa told BIRN." I accept any other name than Macedonia" for the northern neighbor.

According to the police, about 90 thousand people attended the rally, many coming from other parts of Greece.  

Protesters carried Greek flags and banners saying "Macedonia is Greek" and sang the Greek national anthem and the anthem of Greek Macedonia and chanting the slogan "There is only one Macedonia and it is Greek".

The protest was organized by a rightist civic movement from northern Greece called "Thermaikos Zero Hour", [Kinisi Thermaikos Wra Miden] made of opponents to the Greek government led by Alexis Tsipras's Syriza party.

Although hardline clerics attended the protest, it was not officially supported by the Greek Orthodox Church, which is seen as a big player in the Greek political life.

Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Ieronymos, after a meeting he had this week with Tsipras, said that he is not going to support any of the upcoming protests, as he has "confidence in the Greek government to handle our national issues".

The so-called name dispute centres on Greece's insistence that use of the word "Macedonia" implies a territorial claim to the northern Greek province of the same name.

As a result, in 2008, Greece blocked Macedonia's NATO entry and has also continued blocking the start of Macedonia's EU accession talks, despite several positive annual reports...