US enrages Greece, recognizes 'Republic of Macedonia' as official name of FYROM: officials

WASHINGTON (AFP) — In its first foreign policy move since President George W. Bush won reelection this week, the United States enraged NATO ally Greece by siding with neighboring Macedonia in a bitter row over the use of the country's name.

The United States formally recognized the "Republic of Macedonia" as the name of the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM) over the strong objections of Greece which has waged a lengthy international campaign against Skopje's use of the moniker.

"We have now decided to refer to Macedonia officially as the 'Republic of Macedonia'," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said, stressing that the move was intended as a show of support for Skopje and not aimed at upsetting Greece which immediately protested the change.

"By recognizing Macedonia's chosen constitutional name, we wish to underscore the US commitment to a permanent multi-ethnic, democratic Macedonian state within its existing borders," ...