SKOPJE, July 5 (Xinhua) -- The Macedonian Parliament voted on Thursday the law on the ratification of the name agreement with Greece with 69 votes in favor, local media reported.
This is the second time the Macedonian parliament voted the law after Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov failed to sign the decree passed initially on June 20.
According to Macedonian foreign minister Nikola Dimtrov, the name agreement guarantees the individuality of the Macedonian identity and language.
"The agreement will establish the identity and overcome the eternal struggle for language and identity. We will join the European Union, including the release of documents in Macedonian language and translated in the Macedonian language," Dimitrov said.
Moreover, Dimitrov added that the President is obliged by law to sign the decree after the second Parliament vote.
"It is time to serve the country's interests and show unity," Dimitrov said.
According to Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, the agreement will be put up for a referendum in Macedonia.
On June 17, Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov and his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias signed the final agreement on the name dispute settlement and the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries.
Both countries have been working towards settling the decades-old dispute over the use of the name Macedonia in the past months.
The issue began in 1991 when the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) declared its independence from Yugoslavia, choosing the name Macedonia, which is also the name of a northern Greek province.
Athens is worried that the use of the same name by the neighboring state could lead to territorial claims.
