ABSTRACT
In the early 1990s, Greek foreign policy was dominated by the dispute with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) 1 that was centred around the new republic's exact name. 2 Strong popular reactions, enormous mass demonstrations, the imposition of economic sanctions, and the unwillingness of both sides to compromise, created an explosive situation with partisan, political and regional consequences.3 As Yugoslavia violently disintegrated, FYROM managed to maintain a poor, precarious but peaceful existence, while Greece's international prestige was badly damaged. An Interim Agreement was eventually signed in September 1995 between the two states, although it did not resolve the name issue.4
