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SKOPJE (Reuters) – Macedonia on Sunday held a referendum on the opportunity to change its name to "Republic of Northern Macedonia", a decision that would resolve a decades-long dispute with Greece that was blocking its bid to win. accession to the European Union and NATO.
Greece, which has a province called Macedonia, says the name of its northern neighbor represents a claim on its territory and vetoed its entry into NATO and the EU.
Athens and Skopje reached an agreement in June on the basis of the proposed new name, but nationalist opponents say the change would undermine the ethnic identity of the country's majority Slav population.
President Gjorge Ivanov said that he would not vote in the referendum and that a boycott campaign cast doubt on the fact that participation will reach the 50% minimum required for the referendum to be valid.
The question on the referendum vote was: "Are you in favor of joining NATO and the EU with the acceptance of the agreement with Greece".
Proponents of the name change, including Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, argue that it is a price that is worth being paid for admission to the EU and NATO .
"I came today to vote for the future of the country, for the young people of Macedonia so that they can live freely under the auspices of the European Union, because that means safer lives for all of us, "said Olivera Georgijevska, 79, in Skopje. .
Although they are not legally binding, enough members of parliament have declared that they would submit to the outcome of the vote to make it decisive. The name change would require a two-thirds majority in parliament.
The state election commission said that no irregularities had been reported during the first two hours of the vote. The participation rate was 2.45%.
"I came to vote because of my children, our place is in Europe," said Gjose Tanevski, a 62-year-old voter in Skopje.
A LOT OF INVESTMENT
In front of the parliament in Skopje, 54-year-old Vladimir Kavardarkov prepared a small stage and set up chairs in front of tents set up by those who boycotted the referendum.
"We are for NATO and the EU, but we want to join our heads up, not by the service door," Kavadarkov said. "We are a poor country, but we have dignity"
"If they (NATO and the EU) do not want to take us to Macedonia, we can turn to other countries like China and Russia and be part of Euro-Asian integration. "
Prime Minister Zaev said that joining NATO would bring vital investments to Macedonia, whose unemployment rate is above 20%.
"I think the overwhelming majority will be favorable because more than 80% of our citizens are in favor of the EU and NATO," Zaev said after voting.
He said that a "yes" result would be "a confirmation of our future".
According to a survey published Monday by the Macedonian Institute for Policy Research (IPIS), 30 to 43% of voters would participate in the referendum – below the required participation rate.
Another survey, conducted by Macedonian TV channel Telma, revealed that 57 percent of those polled planned to vote on Sunday. Of these, 70% said they would vote yes.
Edition by Raissa Kasolowsky
