In Macedonia, scepticism and hope as country set to change its name

Members of an orchestra perform at Macedonian Philharmonics hall in central Skopje, Macedonia, June 1, 2018. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

SKOPJE (Reuters) - The "Republic of Northern Macedonia" - the proposed new name for the country once part of Yugoslavia - is meant to settle a diplomatic standoff with Greece, but will not satisfy some nationalists on either side of the border.

When it declared independence in 1991, many Greeks felt the country had hijacked their ancient cultural heritage as Macedonia is the birthplace of Alexander the Great as well as the name of a province in northern Greece.