VOA慢速英语2018--马其顿总统承诺不会与希腊达成协议

Macedonian President Promises to Veto Name Deal with Greece

The “Republic of Northern Macedonia” is the proposed new name for a country that was once part of Yugoslavia.

The proposed name is meant to settle a diplomatic dispute between the country known as the Republic of Macedonia and the government in Greece. But, the proposal will not satisfy some nationalists on either side of the border.

Macedonia declared its independence in 1991. However, many Greeks felt the country had hijacked¹ their ancient cultural past. Macedonia was, they said, the birthplace of Alexander the Great and the name of a province in northern Greece.

“Macedonia is Greek. It is not Slavic. Alexander the Great, the ancient Greek Language, all the coins, all the monuments…”

But many people whose families have lived in the former Yugoslav republic refuse to accept any other name.

One Macedonian protester told VOA:

“We are Macedonians, and we will remain that. That’s it.”

Since its independence, Greece’s northern neighbor was officially recognized as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Greek government has blocked the country’s membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union. The Greek government has demanded that the country give up the name Macedonia.

But on Tuesday, the Greek and Macedonian prime ministers reached a deal that could settle the 27-year dispute. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced the agreement.

“They agreed to name their country Republic of Severna Makedonija, or in our language, Republic of North Macedonia.”

He added that the agreement guarantees that there can be no territorial² or other claims on the Greek side of the border.

Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev called on his country’s citizens to accept the compromise.

“Macedonia must go forward and be equal with the West, to compete with them and to have the same quality of life.

Some of his citizens agree. But opponents in both countries could stop any final move.

“We are Macedonians, and we are not interested in changing our name, a woman named Marcia told the Reuters news service. “For my whole life, I’ve been called Marcia. It would be the same as if someone would force me now to change my name,” she said.

President Gjorge Ivanov says the agreement is harmful for the Republic of Macedonia and violates its constitution. Ivanov said he would refuse to sign it into law.

The deal still requires a special election in Macedonia and action by parliament.

I’m Lucija Millonig.

1 hijacked   

劫持( hijack的过去式和过去分词 )； 绑架； 拦路抢劫； 操纵（会议等，以推销自己的意图）

参考例句：

• The plane was hijacked by two armed men on a flight from London to Rome. 飞机在从伦敦飞往罗马途中遭到两名持械男子劫持。
• The plane was hijacked soon after it took off. 那架飞机起飞后不久被劫持了。

2 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。