The name of Macedonia ignites the street in Athens

Clashes broke out during a demonstration in Athens between 60,000 and 100,000 people to protest the agreement on the new name of Macedonia, which is expected to be passed by the Greek parliament soon.

Clashes took place between the security forces and about 30 masked youths who succeeded in infiltrating the demonstration and throwing projectiles to try to storm the parliament wall.

Riot police responded with tear gas, leading to the dispersal of many protesters who were distressed by smoke.

"There is only one Macedonia, Macedonia is Greek, and only!" Said Christina Gerodemum participating in the demonstration. "This is a government of traitors."

Most of the protesters carried blue and white Greek flags in the square of Syntagma in the heart of Athens before the parliament, which usually sees similar movements, and on a large banner reading "referendum on the name of Macedonia."

Agreement and discussion
The demonstrations came despite an agreement between Athens and Skopje on the name of Macedonia in June 2018 aimed at ending a 30-year-old conflict between the two countries, which calls for the designation of the small Balkan country "the Republic of Macedonia".

The Greek parliament will debate this week the agreement reached by the Macedonian parliament 10 days ago, before being presented with a decisive vote at the end of the week.

Many Greeks - especially the people of the north of the country - assert that the name of Macedonia is part of a purely Greek heritage.

Officially, the opposition parties and the government of Alexis Tsipras, like the right and the socialists, do not participate in the demonstrations, but said that everyone has the freedom to participate in his or her personal capacity.

Some deputies from the right-wing "new democracy" party attended the demonstration, and MP Fotini Arabazzi of the "New Democracy" party told Radio Sky that it was a "national duty".

The right of citizens
Prime Minister Alexis Tsebras said there was "no discussion of citizens' right to peaceful demonstration in a democratic society" in an interview with Agence France-Presse newspaper Agence published on Sunday.

He also stressed that "everyone has the obligation to isolate extremist groups that can manipulate the demonstrations, and refrain from participating in demonstrations that raise the titles of hatred."