The Greek Prime Minister congratulated his Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev on the successful parliamentary vote to start the procedure to amend Macedonia's Constitution in order to change the country's name.

“Congratulations my friend Zoran Zaev! Tonight’s vote is a big step towards our common success. A very important step to a peaceful and prosperous future for our people!,” Alexis Tsipras wrote on his Twitter account.

President of the European Council Donald Tusk wrote on his Twitter account in Macedonian language that the vote made Macedonia a step closer to the Euro-Atlantic community.

“One vote, one big vote in the place that belongs to you in our transatlantic community,” Tusk wrote.

European Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn wrote that Friday was a great day for democracy in Macedonia and congratulated everyone who decided to go along the EU path.

“A great day for democracy in Skopje (Macedonia)! I congratulate all those who decided to walk on along the EU path. I expect that the free choice of all MPs is fully respected, especially of those who crossed the aisle tonight. We need statesmanship, not party-games,” Hahn wrote on the said social network.

Macedonian Parliament adopted a decision on initiating a Constitution change in line with the Prespa Agreement. The motion was adopted with a two-thirds majority.

The Agreement provides a solution to a years-long dispute with Greece about the name ‘Macedonia.’ the Agreement envisages a name change into ‘Republic of Northern Macedonia.’

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