The massive rally in Athens for Macedonia as reported by foreign news

The reports of foreign media focus mainly on the great participation of the people, the history of the Athens-Skopje conflict after the break-up of Yugoslavia and the speech by Mikis Theodorakis.

"A mass demonstration in Athens for the struggle for the name of Macedonia," the BBC reported, "many Greeks reacting to the use of the name of the country, saying it hides territorial claims for the area of ​​Northern Greece." It also stressed that "the protesters oppose the Greek government's proposals to resolve the issue" and that Zorbas's composer, Mikis Theodorakis, also sent a message to the crowd at whose house anarchists threw red paint, on Saturday.

"The Greeks are demonstrating against the compromise on Macedonia," Skynews also said, with a constant link to the rally, and hosted statements by political analyst James Kerr Lindsey of St Mary's University who said: "There is a real sense that with the new government that came to power last year in FYROM there is an opportunity to turn the page to start the integration process in the Euro-Atlantic institutions. " He stressed, however, that "controversy is not only about the name but also about the identity. It has to, beyond the name, do with much deeper identity issues in the area. "

"The Greeks gather in Athens for the name of Macedonia," is the title of Reuters wire, that comments that "the issue is causing strong reactions to the Greeks, who consider Macedonia, the ancient kingdom of Alexander the Great to be an integral part of their homeland and heritage." At the same time, it refers to the diplomatic moves to resolve the issue that began "in a delicate situation for Greece as it struggles to emerge from the worst debt crisis for decades and to recover control over the formulation of economic policy after years of austerity, imposed by international creditors."

Extensive references were also made to German media.

"Hundreds of thousands are demonstrating against the use of the name Macedonia," writes Zeit.

And it explains: "Historical Macedonia was always a part of Greece for the Greeks, which is why many Greeks are against identifying a country with this term." Representatives of "Macedonia" say on the other hand that their country has long been known as "Macedonia". The UN was forced to seek a compromise following the collapse of Yugoslavia in 1991. The country is recognized by international institutions such as the UN as "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", FYROM. Approximately 130 countries, however, call it simply Macedonia. Many Greeks call the country by its capital, Skopje."

According to the report of the German news agency DPA under the title "Great demonstration in Athens: 'Macedonia is Greek' ', the protesters -' demand that Greece have the exclusive rights to use the name Macedonia. 'Macedonia is Greek and only Greek,' people who came by buses from all corners of Greece shouted, as TV broadcast. "

The first channel of the German state TV ARD, stressed that the fight against the name has been going on for over 25 years

"Demonstrators are calling for 'change of name' in Macedonia", is the news article published by German Radio Deutschlandfunk, which notes among others: "In the Greek capital, Athens, many people have taken to the streets because of the name dispute with neighboring Macedonia. They value the exclusive right to use the name. The organizers count up to one million participants. At present, the United Nations is mediating between the two sides. [...] The conflict has been in a stalemate for years during the accession negotiations with the EU and NATO "(FYROM).

"Hundreds of thousands are demonstrating for the salvation of Hellenism," writes Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

And in addition to the rally report, it reminds readers of Moscow's stance on the issue, noting that the Greeks found "support fort the Slav-Macedonians from Russia. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in the honesty that at times characterizes him, said what the issue is for Russia: that the negotiations on the issue that had been so long asleep were triggered "when the US decided that Macedonia should enter NATO" Lavrov said in mid-January." And when he answered a Greek journalist, the head of Putin's diplomacy added that Athens must not let pressure be put on it: "Since Greece is already in NATO, it does not need to make concessions. Macedonia has to make concessions as she wants to join NATO "..."

"The Greeks are demonstrating to defend the name "Macedonia"," the New York Times write in an article that concludes: "Even if the two countries reach a compromise, "Macedonian"officials have suggested that they want to ask the opinion of the people through a referendum on the deal. If that is the case, there will be internal pressure in Greece to do the same, and the most likely outcome will be a stalemate. "

Other US media, including Washington Post, CNN, as well as French and Italian news outlets, also reported on the rally.

"Greece: Demonstration in Athens to give Macedonia its name," wrote Le Monde.

"Greece: Great Mobilization Against the Conciliation for the Name of Macedonia" was the title of Le Point.

"Macedonia is Greece. No agreement with Skopje ", writes Italian La Stampa.

While MIA news agency of FYROM says: "Mikis Theodorakis calls for referendum on Macedonia agreement"