Last piece of Macedonia deal passes

Greece’s parliament has approved a measure for Macedonia to join Nato, ending a decades-old dispute watched closely by Western allies wary of Russian influence in the region.

Lawmakers voted 153-140 yesterday to back the Nato protocol, which must now also be approved by all other alliance members.

The Greek vote means the former Yugoslav republic will now formally change its name to North Macedonia, settling a spat over the country’s name, which Greece saw as a potential threat to its own northern region of Macedonia.

Western countries strongly backed the deal between Greece and Macedonia, after Macedonia’s bid to join Nato had been shelved for a decade and amid European concerns over Russia’s vocal opposition to the alliance’s expansion into the Balkans.

‘‘Clearly it is in Greece’s interest to promote a European course for all its neighbours, not just for North Macedonia – and not (back) the influence of third forces in the neighbourhood, with different aspirations and pursuits,’’ Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said.

Tsipras had faced large demonstrations against the deal, while opinion polls showed that more than two-thirds of Greeks opposed it. The agreement also nearly toppled his government last month.