Skopje (Reuters) - Canada has recognized the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia as Macedonia, the name rejected by neighbour Greece for the past 16 years, a senior government official said on Thursday.
The name is one of the most emotive foreign policy issues in Greece. Macedonia is also the name of Greece's northern province, birthplace of Alexander the Great.
"The Canadian government has decided to recognize Macedonia under its constitutional name, which will now be in use in all bilateral relations," the foreign ministry official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Officials at the Canadian embassy were not immediately available for comment.
Athens has opposed the name "Macedonia" ever since the republic broke away from socialist Yugoslavia in 1991. The two neighbours have been involved in United Nations-led talks for a name acceptable to both sides since 1993, with little progress.
At NATO, the European Union and the U.N., the country is referred to by the acronym FYROM, "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," but the United States, Russia, China, and several EU states use the name "Macedonia" in their bilateral relations.
Greece has indicated it might block Macedonia's bid for EU and NATO membership if it tries to join under the disputed name.