October 22, 2018•Update: October 23, 2018
BELGRADE, Serbia
The Macedonian Parliament on Monday voted to adopt a proposal for a constitutional amendment changing the country's name to "North Macedonia" under an earlier agreement with Greece.
Two-thirds majority, 80 deputies of the 120-seat parliament, voted in favor of the proposal.
In the second stage, the amendment made to the Constitution will be voted on. At least 61 of 120 deputies will need to vote in favor so that the process reaches its third and final phase.
A two-thirds majority will be needed in the last stage for the amendments to be finalized.
The name issue has kept Macedonia from joining the EU and NATO since its independence in 1991.
Macedonia's international recognition was finalized in April 1993, when the country was unanimously adopted as a member of the UN General Assembly, but was admitted as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) due to pressure by Greece.
Despite the dispute between Athens and Skopje, many countries, including Turkey, recognize the country as Macedonia.
In June, the Macedonian and Greek governments signed the Prespa Agreement which requires Macedonia to change its name to the Republic of North Macedonia and Greece to drop its objection to Macedonia joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and becoming a member of the European Union.
