Macedonia and Greece cut deal

MACEDONIA and Greece have restarted direct commercial flights for the first time in 12 years following an agreement to try and end a long dispute over the Balkan republic’s name.

Macedonia’s deputy prime minister was on the Olympic Airlines flight to the Macedonian capital of Skopje yesterday evening after talks in Athens. Passengers were handed biscuits upon arrival. Greece and Macedonia are at odds over the former Yugoslav republic’s name, which Athens says implies a claim against Greek territory.