Local police say about 140,000 protesters took to the streets to demonstrate in Athens on Sunday (5/2/2018). they were angry over the possibility of a compromise over a long-standing dispute with his Balkan neighbor over the use of Macedonian or Macedonian names.
The protesters traveled from all over the country to the Greek capital, where they waved flags and shouted slogans, including "Macedonia is Greek" and "Hands off Macedonia".
The protests came after Greece and Macedonia resumed talks last month to resolve disputes that began more than two decades ago.
Earlier this month, UN negotiator Matthew Nimetz voiced optimism that both countries could end the dispute this year.
The leaders of both countries also said that progress had been made in resolving the dispute, with an indication that an agreement could include a composite name with geographical or chronological qualifications, which would still include "Macedonia".
To know that the dispute began after the Balkan state was small, for decades became part of the former Yugoslavia, gained independence in 1991 and wanted to call himself
Macedonia.
However, Greece has rejected the use of its name, arguing that it could imply a claim territorial over the northern region of Greece of the same name. But it is denied Macedonia.
On CNN, the opponents believe their neighbors are Slavic, with no linguistic links or culture with the Macedonian region of Greece, which is the home of Alexander the Great.
While Macedonians argue that they lived in parts of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia and
has a cultural bond with him.