Business

Macedonia renames airport, highway to ease spat with Greece

06 of February 2018

A giant Greek flag hangs from a crane waves over protesters during a rally in Athens, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018. Protesters from across Greece were thronging the Greek capital's main square outside parliament Sunday to protest a potential Greek compromise in a dispute with neighboring Macedonia over the former Yugoslav republic's official name. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis),A giant Greek flag hangs from a crane waves over protesters during a rally in Athens, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018. Protesters from across Greece were thronging the Greek capital's main square outside parliament Sunday to protest a potential Greek compromise in a dispute with neighboring Macedonia over the former Yugoslav republic's official name. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Macedonia's left-wing government has renamed the country's main airport and highway, both previously named after the ancient warrior king Alexander the Great, in a goodwill move toward neighboring Greece. The Macedonian government spokesman has told The Associated Press that the airport has been renamed Skopje International Airport, after the nation's capital.

SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) — Macedonia’s left-wing government has renamed the country’s main airport and highway, both previously named after the ancient warrior king Alexander the Great, in a goodwill move toward neighboring Greece.

Government spokesman Mile Boshnjakovski told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the airport was renamed Skopje International Airport, after the nation’s capital. The main highway will now bear the name “Prijatelstvo,” meaning friendship.

Macedonia and Greece have been at odds for a quarter-century over the name Macedonia, but have pledged to resolve the dispute by the summer.

Greece says the country’s name implies claims on its own province of Macedonia — home of ancient Greek warrior-king Alexander the Great — and wants it changed. That charge is denied by the Macedonian government.