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Macedonian language naming dispute

This article is about the Slavic language. For the Hellenic language spoken in the ancient world, see Ancient Macedonian language.

South Slavic language spoken in North Macedonia and some adjacent areas has been referred to using several different terms. Its native speakers, as well as the Constitution of North Macedonia, call it Macedonian language (Macedonian: македонски, makedonski).[1] It is also the name under which the language is internationally recognized.[2][3][4][5] However, for historical reasons[citation needed], as well as due to the Macedonia naming dispute, several other terms of reference are used when describing or referring to the language. Some of the names use the family to which the language belongs ("Slavic", "South Slavic" or similar) to disambiguate it from the non-Slavic ancient Macedonian language, a different language in the Hellenic branch; sometimes the autonym "Makedonski" is used in English for the modern Slavic language, with "Macedonian" being reserved for the ancient language.[6] There is also a dialect of Modern Greek called Macedonian Greek and spoken by the Greek Macedonians.[7][8][9] Such variations in nomenclature are often due to political opposition from Greece rather than scientific or linguistic reasons, as the usage of the term Macedonian to describe the Slavic language remains dominate in academic and international circles.[citation needed]

In 3 June 2018, the Greek Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Panagiotis Kouroumblis, acknowledged that Greece fully recognizes the term "Macedonian language" for the modern Slavic language, since the 1977 UN Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names,[10] a fact confirmed on 6 June by the Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias, who stated that the language was recognized by the New Democracy-led government of that time. Kotzias also revealed classified documents confirming the use of the term "Macedonian Language" by the past governments of Greece, as well as pointing out to official statements of the Greek Prime Minister Evangelos Averoff who in 1954 and 1959 used the term "Macedonian language" to refer to the South Slavic language.[11][12] New Democracy denied these claims, noting that the 1977 UN document states clearly that the terminology used thereof (i.e. the characterization of the languages) does not imply any opinion of the General Secretariat of the UN regarding the legal status of any country, territory, borders etc. Further, New Democracy stated that in 2007 and 2012, as governing party, included Greece's objections in the relevant UN documents.[13] On 12 June 2018, Prime Minister of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev, announced that the recognition of the Macedonian language by Greece is reaffirmed in the Prespa agreement.[14]

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  10. ^ "Kouroublis: In 1977, Greece recognized "Macedonian language" (original: Κουρουμπλής: To 1977 η Ελλάδα αναγνώρισε "μακεδονική γλώσσα")". Skai Channel. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  11. ^ Τα απόρρητα έγγραφα που κατέθεσε ο Κοτζιάς για ΠΓΔΜ) [The classified documents submitted by Kotzias about the Republic of Macedonia]. thepressproject.gr (in Greek). The Press Project. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  12. ^ Τα απόρρητα αρχεία που κατέθεσε στη Βουλή ο Νίκος Κοτζιάς (pics) [The classified files submitted by Nikos Kotzias in the Parliament (pics)]. www.cnn.gr (in Greek). CNN. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  13. ^ "ND dismisses accusations that it recognized "macedonian" language since 1977", Prot Thema newspaper, June 8, 2018 In Greek.
  14. ^ "Zaev:We made a deal - Republic of North Macedonia, with Macedonian language and Macedonian identity". kajgana.com (in Macedonian). Кајгана. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.

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