Macedonia Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said renaming the country will pave the way to joining NATO and the European Union.

“It is an act of statesmanlike responsibility and strong patriotism because it facilitates the two greatest state interests – the membership in NATO and The EU, to happen,” the Macedonian government said in a statement on its official website.

The Macedonian parliament approved the constitutional amendments to rename the country the Republic of North Macedonia.