The prime ministers of Greece and Macedonia will meet on Wednesday for the latest attempt to resolve a country name dispute that has dogged the neighbours for 27 years and threatens to spill over into a broader geopolitical struggle.
Greece has demanded that the Republic of Macedonia changes the name it shares with a Greek province because it implies a territorial claim. It has vetoed the smaller country’s bid for membership of Nato and the European Union because of the dispute.
The dispute has rumbled on since Macedonia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, but moves towards a deal have been bitterly opposed by nationalists in both countries.
Some 90,000 people protested against any prospect of a deal at the weekend in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, the capital of the Greek province of Macedonia. They carried posters and banners saying: “Macedonia is Greek”.
The country’s two leaders, Alexis Tsipras of Greece and Zoran Zaev of Macedonia, will meet at the World Economic Forum in Davos after the start of talks last week at the United Nations aimed at seeking a compromise.
The talks have been possible through the pragmatic leadership of the two men, who have faced opposition from powerful forces at home against striking a deal that could lead to closer ties between countries within the region, said analysts.
Mr Tsipras said in an interview on Sunday that he could accept a composite name that included the word Macedonia. Reports have suggested the inclusion of a word like ‘North’ or ‘New’ to differentiate the country from the Greek province. The country is represented in international organisations as The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Analysts said that any failure to resolve the dispute could see Russia, Turkey and China increase their influence in the region if countries such as Macedonia saw no prospect of becoming part of EU and Nato.
“If the EU is not a key player, then others will step in,” said Daniel Smilov, a political analyst at the Sofia-based Centre for Liberal Strategies. “Russia and China have strong interests.”
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Greece vetoed Macedonia’s application to join Nato in 2008 because of the dispute over its name. Macedonia is hoping for an invitation to join the military alliance this year in the face of growing Russian influence.
The small Balkan nation had major strategic importance for the EU as a key staging post during the European migration crisis. Hundreds of thousands of refugees headed north across the border it shares with Greece into Europe.
“If they repeat the mistake of 2008, it would be a clear invitation for different players from the south east part of the Mediterranean like ISIL, or north east powers like Russia,” said Blerim Reka, a professor of international law and former ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia to the EU. “That’s why they should close the last obstacle for Nato membership.”
Bulgaria and Greece in 2012 both blocked Macedonia from entering into accession talks with the European Union.
Bulgaria then accused Macedonia of “badmouthing” the country but relations have improved with the ascent of Mr Zaev’s centre-left party and the defeat of nationalists at elections in 2017.
Attempts to solve the dispute are part of broader attempts to improve relations between the countries in the region. Bulgaria and Macedonia have both signed off on a good neighbour agreement.
The weekend demonstrations in Greece were also not of the same scale as in 1992 when the name issue first flared, suggesting improving prospects of doing a deal.
Nationalist parties in Bulgaria joined the name dispute this week to back Macedonia, but senior Greek politicians said that solving the dispute rested with them and the Macedonian leadership.
“No one is putting pressure and we do not allow anyone to pressure us,” said Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias quoted by Macedonian media. “We are close to a solution on certain issues. I believe topics to be discussed in Davos on Wednesday will show the direction.”
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Results
Final: Iran beat Spain 6-3.
Play-off 3rd: UAE beat Russia 2-1 (in extra time).
Play-off 5th: Japan beat Egypt 7-2.
Play-off 7th: Italy beat Mexico 3-2.
The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
The years Ramadan fell in May
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
The five pillars of Islam
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
The years Ramadan fell in May
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
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