[Restorer]

My uncle is married to a Macedonian.

One of the nastiest squabbles of the last century or so is the issue of who "Macedonia" belongs to.

The Greeks claim it on historical grounds, a big reason they're so territorial about Alexander. They claim he was Greek, and he was from Macedon, therefore Macedonia must be Greek.

Meanwhile, most of the actual Macedonians speak a Slavic language more or less midway between Serbian and Bulgarian, causing both the Serbs and the Bulgars to claim that Macedonians are "really" Serbs or Bulgars.

At the moment, it appears that the Macedonians are opting out of this three-way tug of war and going for independence. Let's hope it sticks.

[rmlew]

The Greeks claim it on historical grounds, a big reason they're so territorial about Alexander. They claim he was Greek, and he was from Macedon, therefore Macedonia must be Greek.
History, ethnicity, and land are always fun issues in the Balkans.

Meanwhile, most of the actual Macedonians speak a Slavic language more or less midway between Serbian and Bulgarian, causing both the Serbs and the Bulgars to claim that Macedonians are "really" Serbs or Bulgars.
I think the Albanians are in the mix somewhere. They seem to want Macedonia for themselves.

At the moment, it appears that the Macedonians are opting out of this three-way tug of war and going for independence. Let's hope it sticks.
Did they take a picture of Thesselonika off their currency yet?