After years of stalling, Greece oks Macedonia in NATO

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras addresses lawmakers during a parliamentary session before a vote on accession of North Macedonia to NATO in Athens, Greece, February 8, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

ATHENS (Reuters) - After holding up its admission for years, Greece became the first nation on Friday to ratify Macedonia's membership of NATO after the two states resolved a decades-old name dispute last month.

NATO members signed the accord with Macedonia this week, days after the Greek parliament endorsed an agreement between Athens and Skopje that changes Macedonia's name to North Macedonia.