SKOPJE, Sept 30, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Macedonians will vote Sunday on whether
to re-name their country North Macedonia in a bid to settle a long-running
row with Greece and unlock its path to NATO and EU membership.
Macedonia has struggled for recognition of its name since its birth in 1991
when the landlocked country declared independence from Yugoslavia.
Athens protested immediately, accusing Skopje of stealing the name of its
own northern province also called Macedonia.
The dispute stretches back nearly three decades, with both countries
claiming links to Alexander the Great’s ancient empire of Macedon, which
spanned the territories.
A grandiose “antiquisation” project under Macedonia’s former government
that plastered Skopje with neo-classical facades and statues of Alexander the
Great added fuel to the fire.
But in June Macedonia’s new premier Zoran Zaev and his Greek counterpart
Alexis Tsipras reached a landmark compromise under which Greece would drop
its objections to Macedonia joining the EU and NATO in return for the name
change.
On Sunday, the nation will vote to accept or reject the deal with polls
opening at 0500 GMT.
Some feel it is embarrassing to change their name at the request of another
country.
But a desire anchor their future to the West — and the economic prosperity
that could bring — is a powerful motivation to accept the deal in one of
Europe’s poorest countries.
“We cannot really say it is fair, but the EU and NATO matter more for all
of us, so let’s move forward,” 28-year-old Abedin Memeti said ahead of the
vote.
– Boycott –
The referendum is not binding, but a ‘yes’ majority would give parliament a
political mandate to change the constitution.
If the deal is passed through the referendum and is ratified by two-thirds
of MPs, the Greek parliament will be called on to give the final stamp of
approval.
While the Macedonian government plans to call any significant majority in
favour of the deal a success, the right-wing opposition may question the
vote’s credibility if turnout is below 50 percent.
Some critics of the name deal have been calling for a boycott, including
President Gjorge Ivanov, who is allied with the nationalist opposition.
Massive emigration in recent decades could also affect the numbers, with
nearly a quarter of the 2.1 million population estimated to live abroad.
Less than 3,000 of those overseas have signed up to vote.
– Western Balkans foothold –
Europe and the US have campaigned hard for the deal, with many leaders
passing through Skopje to urge Macedonians to accept the “historic”
opportunity.
NATO has already issued an invite — on hold until the deal passes — while
EU accession talks are scheduled to begin next year.
The West is keen to have another foothold in the Western Balkans, a region
where Russia, which is opposed to NATO expansion, has historically had
influence.
At home, those in favour of the deal say a desire for an EU future is
helping bind ethnic Macedonians with the Albanian minority, who are broadly
pro-West.
While Macedonia avoided the full-scale inter-ethnic wars that rippled
across the region during the collapse of Yugoslavia, it was roiled by an
Albanian insurgency in 2001 that left more than 100 dead.
A peace deal was reached later that year granting Albanians more political
rights, but tensions have remained.
“This is the first time I am seeing Macedonians and Albanians campaigning
together for common goals,” Besa Arifi, a law professor, told AFP.
“This will give us more opportunities to unite all citizens around shared
values,” he added.