15 FEB 2019: It’s official: the Republic of North Macedonia has replaced Republic of Macedonia as part of a historic deal with Greece. As a first practical move, workers were replacing road signs on the border with Greece to reflect the name change, which ends a nearly three decade-long dispute with Greece over use of the term “Macedonia.” Later, the country will change signs at airports and on official buildings, web pages and printed materials.
Vehicle registration plates will also change, while passports and currency will be replaced over the coming years.
The dispute dates back to the country’s 1991 declaration of independence from Yugoslavia.
Athens argued the name implied claims on the northern Greek province of Macedonia and usurped its ancient Greek heritage. Although more than 130 countries did recognize the country as Macedonia, the United Nations and other international bodies used the cumbersome moniker “Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia,” agreed in an interim accord in 1995.
Hundreds of rounds of United Nations-brokered negotiations floundered until last year, when Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras agreed to a compromise.
Not everyone is happy
The deal has been met with vociferous objections by large sections of the public on both sides of the border, with critics in both countries accusing their respective governments of conceding too much to the other side.
Skopje resident Marinna Stevcevska, 55, said she was “deeply disappointed and emotionally hurt” by the change.
“I will not change my passport as long as I can and I’m hoping that something will change to have the old name back,” she said. “I’ve promised to myself that if Macedonia changes its name, I’ll be leaving the country. I’m still thinking where to move.”
The country’s customs administration will change all its digital records to reflect the new name within three days, while signs at airports and border crossings will be changed. Vehicle license plates will be changed within four months, while new passports will start being issued at the end of the year.
New currency will also be printed, but not quite yet. North Macedonian authorities say the National Bank will create a plan for the gradual replacement of the currency, with the first new banknotes being drawn up early next year.
The ministry said in a press release late Thursday it submitted relevant notes to “the United Nation’s Protocol, member and observer states, and to all international, multilateral and regional organizations.”