SKOPJE - Macedonia held a referendum on
Sunday on whether to change its name to 'Republic of North
Macedonia', a move that would resolve a decades-old name dispute
with Greece which had blocked its membership bids for the
European Union and NATO.
Greece, which has a province called Macedonia, maintains
that its northern neighbour's name represents a claim on its
territory and has vetoed its entrance into NATO and the EU.
Athens and Skopje struck a deal in June based on the
proposed new name, but nationalist opponents argue the change
would undermine the ethnic identity of the country's Slavic
majority population.
President Gjorge Ivanov has said he will not be voting in
the referendum and a boycott campaign has cast doubts on
whether turnout will meet the minimum 50% required for
the referendum to be valid.
The question on the referendum ballot read: "Are you for
NATO and EU membership with acceptance of the agreement with
Greece".
Supporters of the name change, including Prime Minister
Zoran Zaev, argue that it is a price worth paying for admission
into the EU and NATO.
"I came today to vote for the future of the country, for
young people in Macedonia so they can be live freely under the
umbrella of the European Union because it means safer lives for
all of us," said Olivera Georgijevska, 79, in Skopje.
Although not legally binding, enough members of parliament
have said they will abide by the vote's outcome to make it
decisive. The name change would requires a two-thirds majority
in parliament.
The state election commission said there had been no reports
of irregularities in the fist two hours of the vote. Turnout
stood at 2.45 percent.
"I came out to vote because of my children, our place is in
Europe," said Gjose Tanevski, 62 voter in Skopje.
MUCH NEEDED INVESTMENT
In front of the parliament in Skopje, Vladimir Kavardarkov,
54, was preparing a small stage and pulling up chairs in front
of tents set up by those who will boycott the referendum.
"We are for NATO and EU, but we want to join with our heads
up, not through the service door" Kavadarkov said.
"We are a
poor country, but we do have dignity."
"If they (NATO and EU) don't want to take us as Macedonia,
we can turn to others like China and Russia and become part of
Euro-Asia integration."
Prime Minister Zaev says NATO membership will bring much
needed investment to Macedonia, which has an unemployment rate
of more than 20 percent.
"I believe the huge majority will be in favour because more
than 80 percent of our citizens are in favour of EU and NATO,"
Zaev said after casting his ballot.
He said that a "yes" result would be "confirmation of our
future."
A poll published on Monday by Macedonia's Institute for
Policy Research (IPIS) said between 30 and 43 percent of voters
would take part in the referendum - below the required turnout.
Another poll, conducted by Macedonia's Telma TV, found 57% of respondents planning to vote on Sunday. Of those, 70% said they would vote yes.