why the US recognized a Republic of Macedonia was a national referendum on the rights of the country´s Albanian minority. The US and EU supported the government in its campaign to say no to the proposal which would have made the minorities - non-Slavs - position weaker. Of course the Macedonians liked that they were recognized as a Macedonia, not some word monster like "FYROM".

The EU is not currently having any thoughts to recognize Macedonia, as Greece would probably fight it to the last.

Yes, I must fully concur with Ioannis that current Macedonia is an artificial state composed by many nationalities, with a predominent Slavic population. After all, the French for fruit sallad - macédoine - comes from this. And that the Slavs raided and finally settled in the Balkans during the early Middle Ages.

Most of the central plain of Macedonia lies in the current Greek province of Macedonia, together with the ancient capital Pella.

To say that modern Macedonia and Macedonians are descended from the ancient ones is highly inprobable. But one must see that they are simply trying to forge a national identity to themselves. The sad thing is that they are doing it in the expense of another nation. The ancient Macedonians were Greek tribes whose language was developed from the proto-Greek of the peoples who moved into the southern Balkans many millenias ago.

I don´t think anyone is a winner in all this.