North Macedonia’s new president seeks to sidestep disputes with EU neighbors

AP-EU–North Macedonia-Greece (AP) — European Union candidate North Macedonia is seeking to calm disputes with EU neighbors Greece and Bulgaria that flared up following the landslide election victory of a conservative-backed coalition and president.  North Macedonia changed its name from Macedonia after a 2018 landmark agreement with Greece that ended a years-long quarrel over the former Yugoslav republic’s name. At a swearing in ceremony Sunday, President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova referred to her country as “Macedonia,” prompting a heated response from Athens and criticism from the European Union. Siljanovska-Davkova’s office said she would respect the country’s international obligations but added that she retains “the right to use the name Macedonia as a personal right of self-identification.”