COMMENTARY: FYROM Should Change Its Name in Order to Join NATO and EU

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) received some unpleasant news this week, as high-level diplomats in both the United States and Germany indicated that FYROM will not be allowed to join NATO or the European Union (EU) unless it changes its name. FYROM is seeking membership in both of these organizations.

The fact is that Greece already has a province called Macedonia in the northern part of the country -- a province that borders FYROM. Consequently, many Greeks believe that -- by using "Macedonia" in its name -- FYROM would like to control the Greek province by the same name.

Moreover, many Greeks are upset that FYROM is trying to be recognized as being the birthplace of Alexander the Great, when, in fact, Alexander was born in Macedon, which is part of the Greek province.

FYROM last year had huge statues of Alexander the Great and his father, Philip of Macedon, erected in its capital of Skopje to illustrate its belief that Alexander and Philip were of Slavic origin, rather than Greek origin. History, however, has already proven that Philip and Alexander were of Greek ancestry, not Slavic.

FYROM -- which became a nation in 1991 as a result of the breakup of several provinces in Yugoslavia -- needs to agree to change its name if it expects to join NATO or the EU. Its new name must be one that is acceptable by the government of Greece.

Once FYROM changes its name, it should have no problem in becoming a member of NATO and the European Union.

The longer it takes FYROM to change its name, the longer it will take FYROM to join these organizations. It's that simple!