MORE than 2000 people from Sydney and around the state took to King Street Mall at Rockdale on Sunday to celebrate Macedonian Independence Day.
Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia Vele Trpevski opened the festivities, which included traditional Macedonian folk dances and singing.
The event comes as a formal complaint was made against Rockdale councillor Andrew Tsounis after he referred to Macedonia as FYROM, or the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Cr Nicholas Mickovski (Liberal) called on Cr Tsounis (Labor) to apologise after he made the comments at last week's council meeting.
There has been a name dispute following the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991.
Macedonia became an independent state and kept the name Republic of Macedonia; however, Greece protested because the name implied regional territorial claims.
Cr Mickovski said the issue was raised at the weekend's event but the community wanted a peaceful dialogue.
"The message that came from the event is that the Macedonian community is a firm believer in unity and diversity," he said.
"We have warmly embraced the wider Rockdale community, irrespective of culture or religion."
Cr Tsounis rejected calls for him to apologise and said FYROM was a name recognised by the Australian government.
"I wasn't picking on anyone or any group," he said.
"My point of view is that it's a term recognised by the Australian government, which is why I used it."
Mayor Shane O'Brien rejected the comments, calling them inappropriate.
"We're a proud multicultural community and we take pride in celebrating our differences," he said.
"The use of FYROM is a matter for the federal government and the UN and it's not relevant to council."