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Macedonia agrees to change its name

Macedonia - Level 0

The Republic of Macedonia will change its name to the Republic of North Macedonia. The country became independent in 1991. It became a member of the U.N. in 1993. Greece's largest region is also called Macedonia. Greece said it owned the name. Greece stopped Macedonia from joining the E.U. because of this.

Over 67 per cent of Macedonia's politicians voted for the change. Opposition politicians did not vote. Hundreds of people protested. An opposition leader said the government traded Macedonia's name, "just like at a market stall." Macedonia's Prime Minister said the name change would, "open the doors to the future".

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Macedonia - Level 1

The Republic of Macedonia will change its name to the Republic of North Macedonia. The country became independent in 1991 after Yugoslavia broke up. It became a member of the United Nations in 1993. Greece's largest region is also called Macedonia and Greece said it owned the name "Macedonia". Greece blocked Macedonia from joining the EU because of this. Macedonia's Prime Minister said the name change would, "open the doors to the future".

Macedonia and Greece talked for ten years. Just over 67 per cent of Macedonia's parliament voted for the change. Opposition politicians did not vote. Hundreds of people protested in front of Macedonia's parliament. An opposition leader was angry. He said: "Look how publicly, how openly, this trade is going on with Macedonia's name and identity - just like at a market stall." The next step is for Greece to agree to the change.

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Macedonia - Level 2

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The Republic of Macedonia will change its name. It agreed on the new name of the Republic of North Macedonia. The change is after a 27-year dispute with Greece. Macedonia became independent in 1991 after the former Yugoslavia broke up. It became a member of the United Nations in 1993. Its name caused an argument with Greece. Greece's largest region is also called Macedonia and said it owned the name "Macedonia". Greece blocked Macedonia from joining the EU because of the name "Macedonia". The Prime Minister said the change would, "open the doors to the future".

There was a decade of talks between Macedonia and Greece. Just over 67 per cent of Macedonia's 120-seat parliament voted for the change. Opposition politicians boycotted the vote. Several hundred people protested against the deal in front of Macedonia's parliament. An opposition leader was angry because of the talks to change the country's name. He said: "Look how publicly, how openly, this trade is going on with Macedonia's name and identity - just like at a market stall." The next step is for Greece to agree to the change.

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Macedonia - Level 3

The Republic of Macedonia has decided to change its name. It agreed on Friday to rename the country the Republic of North Macedonia. The name change is the result of a 27-year dispute with Greece. Macedonia declared independence in 1991 after the break-up of the former country Yugoslavia. It became a member of the United Nations in 1993, but its name caused an argument with Greece. Greece's largest region is also called Macedonia. The Greek government said it owned the name "Macedonia". Greece blocked its neighbor's attempts to join the EU and NATO over the use of the name "Macedonia". Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said the name change would, "open the doors to the future".

The name change comes after a decade of talks between Macedonia and Greece. Just over 67 per cent of representatives in Macedonia's parliament voted for the name change. Eighty-one MPs voted in favor of the name change in the 120-seat parliament. Opposition politicians, who opposed the agreement with Greece, boycotted the vote. Several hundred people protested against the deal in front of Macedonia's parliament over the past three days. An opposition leader was angry over the talks to change the country's name. He said: "Look how publicly, how openly, this trade is going on with Macedonia's name and identity - just like at a market stall." The next step is for Greece to officially agree to the change.

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