Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Macedonia
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Country name changes are important in international relations and often appear in current affairs sections of competitive exams. For many years, Greece and its northern neighbour were involved in a dispute over the use of the name “Macedonia.” This dispute was resolved through an agreement that led to the country officially changing its name to “Republic of North Macedonia.” The question asks which nation made this constitutional change, a key fact in modern European political history.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The core concept is awareness of international treaties and diplomatic resolutions. The Prespa Agreement between Greece and its northern neighbour required the latter to adopt the new name “Republic of North Macedonia” in order to resolve the name dispute and open the path towards NATO and European Union integration. The country that took this step was previously known simply as “Macedonia” in common usage, or as FYROM in some international organisations. Therefore, the correct approach is to link North Macedonia to the former Republic of Macedonia and select “Macedonia” from the options.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the mention of “North Macedonia,” a name arising from a specific international agreement.Step 2: Recall that the long running dispute involved Greece and its neighbour which used the name “Macedonia.”Step 3: Understand that the solution involved the neighbouring country adding “North” to become “Republic of North Macedonia.”Step 4: Check the options and see that Macedonia is listed as one of the choices.Step 5: Select Macedonia as the correct answer because it is the country that officially adopted the new name North Macedonia.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this understanding by recalling that Albania, Serbia, and Kosovo, although also part of the broader Balkan region, did not change their names in relation to a dispute with Greece. Only the former Republic of Macedonia entered into the Prespa Agreement with Greece, leading to international recognition of its new name. News reports and general knowledge sources consistently associate this name change with Macedonia alone.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B (Albania) is incorrect because Albania did not change its constitutional name as part of a dispute with Greece over the term “Macedonia.” Option C (Serbia) and option D (Kosovo) also did not undergo such a renaming to “North Macedonia” and have their own distinct political issues unrelated to this particular agreement.
Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may be confused by the similarity between the geographical region of Macedonia, which includes parts of Greece, and the former Republic of Macedonia. Others may not clearly remember which Balkan state changed its name, leading them to guess randomly among neighbouring countries. A helpful memory trick is to associate “North Macedonia” with the former “Macedonia” that sought NATO and European Union integration through compromise with Greece.
Final Answer:
The correct answer is Macedonia, which officially changed its name to the “Republic of North Macedonia.”
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