Referendum will be held on new name for Macedonia

Macedonia's prime minister has said any new name for his country which is agreed with neighbouring Greece will be put to a referendum later this year.

Speaking at a news conference marking one year since he took office, Zoran Zaev said Skopje and Athens have never been closer to reaching an agreement over Macedonia's name, which has been the subject of a decades-long dispute.

Macedonia's government has committed to modifying the republic's name to address Greek concerns that the current one implies territorial claims on the northern Greek province of the same name.

In return, Athens has promised to lift its objections to Macedonia's Nato and European Union membership

Mr Zaev said a referendum on whatever solution is found will be held in September or October.

- PA