In NATO only by changing the name

The Republic of Macedonia received an official invitation to start accession negotiations for NATO membership. But if Macedonia wants to become NATO's 30th member, the country will have to fulfill its agreement with Greece, according to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels. For Prime Minister Zoran Zaev it is an historic day for Macedonia, while for the opposition VMRO – DPMNE, Macedonia has once again been dealt a blow.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg gives a press conference at the end of the North Atlantic Council during a NATO Summit in Brussels, Source: EPA

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg made it clear that only by changing the name could Macedonia join the Alliance. Here is an excerpt of the press conference at which Mr. Stoltenberg announced that Macedonia will be admitted to NATO under the name Republic of Northern Macedonia.

And on his FB profile regarding the decision at the NATO Summit, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev wrote the following comments.

And in its initial reaction, opposition party VMRO-DPMNE claims that Macedonia did not receive an unconditional invitation for NATO, nor a date for starting negotiations with the European Union. Macedonia under SDSM is undergoing a real diplomatic fiasco, according to party spokesman Naum Stoilkovski at yesterday's press conference.