(ANSA) - SKOPJE - The big national demonstration which was held on Sunday in Athens against any agreement authorizing the use of the term 'Macedonia' for the neighbouring former Yugoslavian country was harshly criticised in Skopje.

Macedonian deputy prime minister Bujar Osmani, responsible for European affairs, said that the name dispute is the focus of political talks which should be held at various levels and in a democratic, peaceful and non-violent way, and under no circumstances should it be decided by crowd who took to the streets.

Even Greek composter Mikis Theodorakis, aged 93, was among the hundreds of thousands of people who took part in the demonstration which took place in Athens, under the slogan 'Macedonia is Greece'. Greece - fearing territorial claims on its northern province called 'Macedonia' - has blocked the path towards the EU and Nato of the former Yugoslavian country for over 25 years. Since its admission to the UN in 1993, Macedonia has been given the acronym Fyrom - Former Yugoslavian republic of Macedonia. In the last few months the hopes of reaching an agreement between the two neighbouring countries have grown, fueled by the optimism that emerged from the summit meetings between the two prime ministers Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev. (ANSA).