SKOPJE, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Macedonian Parliament passed on Wednesday the law on the ratification of the name agreement settlement with Greece.
Macedonian lawmakers voted 69-0 on the ratification of the agreement without the presence of the main opposition party VMRO-DPMNE.
According to Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, the agreement marks the beginning of the end of uncertainty for Macedonia and represents dignified and acceptable solution for both sides, for which Macedonian identity and language is permanently confirmed.
"This is a bold step in the interest of the future of citizens and our children for a peaceful future. Let's dismiss the manipulations, elimination and xenophobia and offer a chance to the agreement. The citizens will have the final say," underlined Zaev prior to the ratification of the agreement.
Soon after the law was adopted and signed by the Speaker of the Macedonian Parliament Talat Xhaferi, it was sent to Macedonia President Gjorge Ivanov's office which has seven days to decide whether he would sign.
In case Ivanov vetoes it, the parliament will hold another vote for the bill, which would then need to be adopted by an absolute majority of 61 Members of Parliament to become a law. Afterwards, if the law is passed for the second time, the president is bound by the Macedonian Constitution to sign it.
Last week, Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov and his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias signed the final agreement on the name dispute settlement and the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries.