MIA

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras insisted on Friday after the European Union summit in Brussels that despite Europe's difficulties, Greece has, through the sacrifices of its people, upgraded its prestige and its role in international developments and has surprised its EU partners with the performance of its economy.

Greek authorities started accepting passports by travelers from North Macedonia on Thursday which carry a stamp in Macedonian, English and French that reads "this passport is property of the Republic of North Macedonia," the neighbouring country's MIA news agency reported.

The government of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has secured the parliamentary majority required to finalize the four constitutional amendments that will change the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to North Macedonia, a ruling party spokesman cited by MIA news agency reported on Friday.

Tanjug is reporting this on Thursday, citing Macedonia's MIA agency.

In conversations with Greek reporters, Apostolakis stressed the military's operative capabilities and preparedness in case Greece's sovereignty and territorial integrity are threatened.

The government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) will submit the draft legislation revising the country's constitution by the end of the week, Prime Minister Zorav Zaev said on Monday, according to MIA news agency.

The changes are part of a deal struck with Athens last June to change the country's name to North Macedonia, ending a 27-year-old name dispute.

The government in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) said on Wednesday it aims to submit the draft amendments revising its constitution "as soon as possible," but did not provide a specific date.

An army patrol of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia reportedly fired warning shots in the air at the country's border with Greece on Wednesday to stop a group of migrants from crossing it, MIA news agency reported.

According to a press release by FYROM's army, cited by MIA, the soldiers "vocally warned the group on several occassions, but they ignmored the calls."

According to local media, one migrant was arrested and turned over to the police, while others returned to the territory of Greece.

The Macedonian Army said in a press release that the incident happened when one of its patrols detected a group of migrants illegally crossing the border near the regional road Gevgelija-Moin.

Cavusoglu said that NATO and the EU should continue to support and cooperate with Skopje.

Germany's ruling centre-right party has urged its sister opposition party in Macedonia to support the deal with Greece in parliament - or be politically responsible for blocking Macedonia's integration into the EU and NATO and for isolating the country from Europe.