Hungary Switches from 'Macedonia' to 'Macedonia'

Hungary has decided to recognize the Republic of Macedonia under its constitutional name instead of the name 'Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia' which has been used by the UN because of the latter's name dispute with Greece.

Hungary announced Monday it recognized the latter as the "Republic of Macedonia" despite a naming row that has seen Athens block its neighbour's bid to join the EU, EU Business reported.

Since Skopje proclaimed its independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991, Greece has alleged that its use of the name Macedonia could imply a territorial claim to the northern Greek province of the same name.

This has led Athens to block the country's attempts to enter NATO and the European Union.

Hungary said its new official designation replaces the name "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", which is how the country is recognized at the United Nations.

"The decision to recognise Macedonia under the name Republic of Macedonia was made a while back," Hungarian foreign ministry spokesman Gabor Kaleta is quoted as saying.

Kaleta did not specify the reasons behind the decision but said they would be spelled out in an upcoming statement.

In October, Greece offered Macedonia a draft memorandum of understanding "to move qualitatively forward" with negotiations on the dispute held under United Nations auspices, which have so far been fruitless.

Bulgaria has been the first sovereign nation in the world to recognize both the independence of Macedonia, and its constitutional name as "The Republic of Macedonia" back in 1992.

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