希臘和馬其頓解決長期名稱爭端

Greece and Macedonia reached a historic settlement Tuesday to their long-simmering dispute over the name Macedonia — shared by the former Yugoslav republic and an ancient region of northern Greece.

Under the deal between the two prime ministers, the country will now be called The Republic of North Macedonia.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said the deal ends any claim he believes Macedonia may have had on Greek territory.

Greece will also stop blocking Macedonia's efforts to join NATO and the European Union.

European Council President Donald Tusk congratulated both sides. “Thanks to you, the impossible is becoming possible,” he tweeted.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the deal and Macedonia’s possible membership “will help to consolidate peace and stability across the wider Western Balkans.”

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the deal will bolster regional security and prosperity and that the United States congratulates both prime ministers for their "vision, courage and persistence."希臘和馬其頓星期二達成歷史性協議，結束了兩國長期以來在“馬其頓”名稱上的爭端。前南斯拉夫共和國馬其頓的名稱與希臘北部一個古老地區的名稱一樣。

根據兩國總理達成的協議，前南斯拉夫共和國的正式名稱將爲“北馬其頓共和國”。

希臘總理齊普拉斯說，這項協議從此消除了任何原馬其頓共和國可能對希臘領土的主權聲索。希臘將不再阻止北馬其頓加入北約和歐盟。

歐盟委員會塔斯克向希臘和馬其頓兩國表示祝賀，在推特上發文說：“謝謝你們將不可能變爲可能。”

北約祕書長斯托爾滕伯格說，這項協議以及北馬其頓可能獲得的北約成員資格將有助於鞏固西巴爾幹地區的和平與穩定。

美國國務院發言人諾爾特說，這項協議將加強地區安全和繁榮，美國對兩國總理的“遠見、勇氣和執着”表示祝賀。