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Greek FM Confident on Name Deal With Macedonia

by Associated Press

   ATHENS --

   Greece's foreign minister says he's confident a preliminary deal to
   rename neighboring Macedonia will be fully ratified despite opposition
   in both countries.
   Nikos Kotzias says he hopes and believes Macedonians will back the name
   change to "North Macedonia" in a September 30 referendum.
   If implemented, the agreement will end a decades-old bilateral dispute
   and ease Macedonia's accession to NATO and the European Union.
   Kotzias also said Thursday that once Macedonia's parliament amends the
   country's constitution to accommodate the change, Greek lawmakers will
   also ratify the deal - even though most opposition parties reject it.
   Kotzias said the timetable for finalizing the process will probably be
   delayed by about a month, to late January. He spoke after talks in
   Athens with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.