fallought t1_iujdb5p wrote on October 31, 2022 at 7:43 PM

Reply to comment by Ornolfr in Moldova condemns Russian strikes after missile debris lands in its territory. by professorbrainiac

Because the north region of Greece is named Macedonia. And is ethnically Macedonian. They needed to name changed to be clear they would never dispute that territory

Kneepi t1_iujig7b wrote on October 31, 2022 at 8:17 PM

No, Greece would not allow them in unless they changed the name

camxct t1_iujj08p wrote on October 31, 2022 at 8:21 PM

That... That's what they said...

DecreasingPerception t1_iujo0c7 wrote on October 31, 2022 at 8:55 PM

They said it was a territorial dispute which isn't true. Nobody claimed North Macedonia belonged to anyone but North Macedonia. They couldn't join because they wouldn't get a unanimous 'yes' vote. Greece would always vote no until they changed their name.

Having part of your territory occupied would be quite different. Either a nation would have to give up any claim to that territory, or get the occupier to give it up. That's why Moldova is a bit stuck. They don't want to fight Russia, but they don't want to give up that land forever.

That being said, I don't think the rule is a strict one. The only hard requirement is for the other NATO nations to unanimously accept a candidate, so the territorial dispute requirement could be ignored if they so choose.

fallought t1_iuk8r5g wrote on October 31, 2022 at 11:33 PM

You are missing the point. No one said that north Macedonia had disputed territory. Civilians and nationalist fringe politicians were claiming Macedonia should encompass a part of Greece's northern region which is also named Macedonia. That is why they demanded the name change to repudiate and land claims

DecreasingPerception t1_iuk9tdi wrote on October 31, 2022 at 11:42 PM

> NATO clearly states territorial conflicts must be settled first. This is the reason Macedonia changed their name to north Macedonia due to conflicts with greece

- /u/fallought

What did you mean then? It certainly sounded like you meant Macedonia was in violation of the 'no territorial disputes' rule. It wasn't, it's just that Greece wouldn't support its admission due to the name.

Edit: To be clear, it's the positions of the states that matter, not opinions of citizens or fringe politicians.