Two rival protests have erupted in the Greek capital over the name of neighboring Macedonia, with anarchist counter-protesters clashing with riot police.
Around a million of people from all around Greece have gathered on Athens’s central Syntagma Square to protest against a possible compromise between the country’s government and neighboring Macedonia over the latter’s name.
People, who arrived in Athens by chartered buses and ferries, chanted slogans like “Hands off Macedonia!” and “Macedonia belongs to Greece!” and waved flags with the Star of Vergina, the emblem of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia.
Impressive turn out at ATHENS rally protesting against the term #Macedonia being used by the Slavs/Albanians of #Skopje #FYROM at a time when Greek political parties have a hard time packing a tennis court. Despite mainstream media partial boycott,especially by #ERT #Συλλαλητηριο pic.twitter.com/h8vEbnzONE
At the same time, another rally of around 700 left-wing and anarchist protesters gathered for a counter-demonstration, calling for the unity of the Balkans.
Tens of thousands of #Greeks stage a mass rally in Athens, urging the government not to compromise in a festering name row with #Macedonia . pic.twitter.com/oSE1Iz1mb1
The riot police had to use stun grenades and tear-gas to disperse the anarchist protesters after the latter began to throw Molotov cocktails at the police.
Riot police clash with the far right — tear gas and stone throwing war — Athens center turned into war zone — again pic.twitter.com/VqRLSSb32O
The dispute between Greece and Macedonia over the latter’s name emerged after Macedonia gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. Greece, which has its own province of Macedonia, argues that its northern neighbor can have territorial claims on the region, once the home of the most famous ancient Greeks, Alexander the Great.
The issue prevents Macedonia from joining NATO, to which Greece belongs. The governments of the two countries have been searching for a solution under the mediation of UN negotiator Matthew Nimetz.
As far as possible solutions are concerned, the country may receive a modifier such as “new” or “north,” but such a proposal has provoked protests in both countries.
