(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 28 - The leaders of three main political groups sitting in the European parliament support the proposal to nominate the Greek and Macedonian premiers, Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev, for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, for their commitment to reaching agreement on the new name of Macedonia. The Serbian media reported that the proposal put forward last month by the Tunisian activist Videt Bushamaui (who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015) and the Greek MEP Steljos Kuloglu, was supported by Udo Bullmann, leader of the Socialists and Democrats in the EU parliament, Ska Keller, co-chair of the Green/EFA Group, and Gabi Zimmer, chair of the European United Left/Nordic Greens. The three European politicians have emphasized in a joint statement the 'political courage' shown by Tsipras and Zaev and their commitment to reaching an agreement, despite the nationalist forces strongly opposed the proposal in both countries. The agreement ratified by the parliaments of the two countries is 'a benchmark for the peaceful solution of international problems through dialogue and compromise'.

According to the agreement, which puts an end to a dispute between Skopje and Athens which has lasted 27 years, the name of the former Yugoslavian country will be "Republic of Northern Macedonia". Greece thus removed the obstacles to the country’s EU and Nato integration. (ANSA).