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He says he now expects Greece's parliament to convene and do the same, and unblock Macedonia's NATO membership.

'I know how difficult that was … we are putting the bitterness in the past and we are looking now proudly to the future,' Mr Zaev said. Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said that Macedonian politicians had 'made history' with their decision to back the constitutional changes associated with the name change. Macedonia approved the deal on Friday, while Greece's parliament is expected to vote on it before March. ( AP: Boris Grdanoski) 'I know how difficult that was': Macedonian PM Opposing residents in both Macedonia and Greece have bitterly opposed what they see as a compromise.

In the latter capacity, he brokered a so-called interim deal whereby Greece dropped its embargo on Macedonia in exchange for the latter's modifying its flag, which included a symbol found in the grave of Philip II, ruler of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia and father of Alexander the Great. Mr Nimetz has been the UN secretary-general's personal envoy on the naming dispute since 1999 and was also US President Bill Clinton's special envoy as mediator on the issue from March 1994 to September 1995. Greece has blocked Macedonia's NATO entry, as well as moves toward EU membership. The passage has been hailed by European leaders who want to see the dispute resolved, wishing to have the country admitted under its new name to NATO.

The agreement on changing the name comes after a 27-year dispute, with Greece complaining that the name Macedonia implies claims on Greece's own territory and cultural heritage. 'I wish to congratulate the parliament and the country's citizens for this accomplishment and for the democratic manner, in which this important process was undertaken,' he said. Matthew Nimetz said in a statement that the agreement, which remains to be ratified by Greece, paves the way for 'a firmer basis for peace and security in the Balkans'.

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