Ok, I give up: What is with the tension between "FYR" Macedonia and Greece Proper?

[ruadh]

Just as an interesting addendum to this thread: at the Ireland-Macedonia Euro 2012 qualifier last night, the Macedonian fans were holding a banner that said “One Name - One Nation”.

[PastTense]

Updating this thread:

Macedonia’s parliament passed an amendment to the constitution on Friday to rename the country Republic of North Macedonia in line with an agreement with Greece to put an end to a 27-year-old dispute.

The two countries struck the deal on the new name in June, but Macedonia will start using it only after the parliament in Athens also ratifies the agreement.

Eighty-one deputies in the 120-seat parliament voted in favour. Representatives of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE, who opposed the agreement with Greece, boycotted the vote.

“A new historical chapter in our statehood has been written this evening,” the Macedonian government said in a statement. “It makes absolutely plausible two of our biggest state interests - membership in Nato and EU.”

Macedonia's parliament votes to accept new name

[clairobscur]

@BrainGlutton

My guess is, from the way things always go in the Balkans and especially in the last 20 years, the Greeks are afraid an independent state of Macedon bordering on their own province of Macedon implies an irredentist territorial claim down the road. That’s what nationalism is all about . . .

If only it was that! At least it would made a shred of sense. But no. Since the collapse of Yugoslavia, Greeks have been a massive pain about this issue, simply because they can’t stand that a neighboring state claims the name of the country of origin of their great national hero and Macedonian historical heritage. That’s nationalism, but at an even vastly lower level than you guessed.

[clairobscur]

OK, once again, posted first and realized later that everything has been covered years ago. Sorry.