Over 100 Macedonian institutions change name

Macedonian Radio Television (RTVM) will be called National Television (RTVN), the Macedonian Information Agency (MIA) will be called the National Information Agency (NIA); the Macedonian philharmonic and Macedonian ballet opera will be called National, as well as many other institutions. While a large number of institutions instead of the Republic of Macedonia will be called the Republic of Northern Macedonia.

With this decision, we have three key moments or principles that have been used during changing the names of institutions. In all those institutions that have stood the name Republic of Macedonia or Macedonia on inscriptions, now on the basis of constitutional changes will be the new Republic of Northern Macedonia. All institutions that have the name "Macedonian" or "Macedonian" will be replaced by the name of Nationality, while some institutions that deal with the national character will not be changed, as is the case with the Macedonian theatre, but will remain the name of the state, Northern Macedonia”, Government spokesman Mile Boskovski has declared.

He said the talks are continuing for the replacement of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts' name as well, but without specifying any concrete name, saying it would be done in co-ordination with academics.

Bosniakovski says the decision does not endanger Macedonian identity, while exempting the possibility of changing the anthem, which also contains the Macedonian surname “”.

The government has decided and called on all institutions to start with implementing the decision to replace all inscriptions with new names, as well as their adaptation to the Law on Languages, which includes the use of Albanian.

“The government of the Republic of Northern Macedonia has obliged all institutions to make changes in the introduction of the institutions regarding the name of the state, in accordance with amendments 33, 34, 35 and 36 of the Constitution, the constitutional law on the implementation of these amendments and Law for the use of”, has declared Government spokesman Muhamet Hoxha.

The Northern Macedonia government's decision has been criticised by the opposition VMRO-DPMNE, which has already rejected the Agreement with Greece on the name.

Macedonian identity and language are inherited rights and no one can counter them. The UN documents clearly highlight our language, translated into six world languages. The identity is also clearly defined. The Government's decision is also evidence that it is designed to continue with the harmful and destructive policy of Macedonian identity and cultural heritage. The Agreement with Greece has jeopardised institutional identity, which is also the pillar of the identity of a state and people”, the VMRO-DPMNE response reported.

The name agreement between the two states has been signed on 17 June 2018, and the two governments, in particular, are working intensively on implementation, since following the completion of the NATO membership process, await the opening of membership talks in the European Union/ REL.

(in photo: Switching entry boards to the border between northern Macedonia and Greece in the vicinity of Gevgelija. February 13th, 2019)