The Australian politician John Barilaro has called on the country’s government to recognize Macedonia as the ‘Republic of Macedonia’.
Acting Premier of New South Wales Barilaro was speaking at a community event to celebrate Orthodox Christmas where he praised the Australia’s multicultural nature.
“What I have always loved about the Macedonian community is how you have remained proud of who you are and you raise your children to be proud that they are, of course, the sons and daughters of the immigrants who chose Australia to be their home,” he was quoted by Neos Kosmos as saying.
Addressing an audience which included Macedonia’s ambassador to Australia, Vele Trpevski, Barilaro went on to state that he “will always acknowledge the Republic of Macedonia” and called for the federal government to do the same.
“I hope 2019 … is the year that the world comes to its senses, that Australia as a nation, the Federal government comes to its senses and acknowledges as the only rightful name the Republic of Macedonia”, he was quoted as saying.