Greek protesters wave flags and banners during a rally against the use of the term "Macedonia" for the northern neighbouring country's name, at the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018. Greek authorities argue that the name Macedonia might suggest that Skopje has territorial claims to the northern Greek region of the same name with Thessaloniki as its capital, but recent talks have led to optimism for a solution.
Greek protesters wave flags and banners during a rally against the use of the term "Macedonia" for the northern neighbouring country's name, at the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018. Greek authorities argue that the name Macedonia might suggest that Skopje has territorial claims to the northern Greek region of the same name with Thessaloniki as its capital, but recent talks have led to optimism for a solution. Giannis Papanikos AP Photo
Greek protesters wave flags and banners during a rally against the use of the term "Macedonia" for the northern neighbouring country's name, at the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018. Greek authorities argue that the name Macedonia might suggest that Skopje has territorial claims to the northern Greek region of the same name with Thessaloniki as its capital, but recent talks have led to optimism for a solution. Giannis Papanikos AP Photo

World

Greeks rally over name dispute with neighbor Macedonia

The Associated Press

January 21, 2018 08:55 AM

THESSALONIKI, Greece

Over 100,000 Greeks have gathered in the northern city of Thessaloniki to demand that neighboring country Macedonia change its name because it is also the name of the Greek province of which Thessaloniki is the capital.

Greece and the Republic of Macedonia have been locked in the name dispute ever since the latter declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. The country is officially represented in international organizations as The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Rally organizers claim that 400,000 people took part Sunday, while police unofficially estimated the crowd at 100,000.

The rally was staged in front of the statue of Alexander the Great, the most famous ruler of the ancient Greek Kingdom of Macedonia.

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