ATHENS (AFP) — Greece expressed "displeasure" on Thursday with Canada's decision to adopt the name Macedonia in its dealings with the tiny Balkan nation which has quarrelled with Athens over its official appellation for 15 years, the Greek foreign ministry said.
Greece has opposed international recognition of its northern neighbour under the name Macedonia since 1992 because it considers the name part of Greek heritage. There is a northern Greek province with the same name.
Athens adheres to the name 'Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia' or FYROM under which the country joined the United Nations in 1993.
"Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis is expected to communicate today with her Canadian counterpart and convey the Greek government's displeasure," the Greek foreign ministry said in a statement.
"It is certain that this decision also displeases hundreds of thousands of Canadian citizens of Greek origin," the ministry said.
Canada had said late Wednesday it would use the name Macedonia in its bilateral dealings with Skopje, and FYROM at international fora, the ministry said.
Skopje welcomed the move on Thursday.
"This is very good news for us and we welcome this gesture by Canada," Prime Minister Macedonian Nikola Gruevski told reporters in the Macedonian capital.
A poll in June showed that most Greeks want their government to veto a future entry into NATO by Macedonia if the name dispute is not resolved.
Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, who was elected to a second four-year mandate on Sunday, indicated during the election campaign that he would block FYROM's entry in both NATO and the EU unless a mutually acceptable solution was found.
The UN's attempts to reach a solution to the controversy have so far failed.
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