Greek parliament approved on Friday the protocol on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) accession to NATO under its new name "Republic of North Macedonia."

153 lawmakers voted in favor and 140 against, with one abstention during the roll-call vote in the 300-member assembly which was broadcast live on the parliament's television "Vouli" (Parliament). A total of 294 deputies participated in the voting procedure.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and members of his government applaud after a vote on changing Macedonia's name to North Macedonia in Athens, Greece, January 25, 2019. [File photo: VCG]

The ratification by the Greek MPs of the protocol that was signed by permanent representatives of NATO member states earlier this week at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels, opens the way so that Greece's northern neighbour starts using the new name.

Friday's vote was one of the final key steps after the approval by the two parliaments this January of the historic agreement that was achieved last summer between Athens and Skopje to resolve a 28-year-old dispute over the use of the name Macedonia.

Since 1991, when FYROM declared independence from Yugoslavia choosing the name Macedonia, Athens protested, fearing that the new state implied claims on Greek territory, as a province in northern Greece has the same name.

The historic Prespes agreement aimed to put an end to the longstanding row and pave the way for the small Balkan country's accession to NATO and the EU.