Page 3 - bne_newspaper_September_21_2018

Top Stories
September 21, 2018 www.intellinews.com I Page 3
For or against?
The referendum is a crucial step in the implemen- tation of the name deal with Greece. The question that will be posed in the referendum is: Are you for EU and Nato integration by accepting the deal between the Republic of Macedonia and Republic of Greece?
Greece, a Nato member, blocked Macedonia’s bid to join Nato at the Bucharest summit back in 2008 due to the unresolved dispute between the two countries. Athens objects to the use of the name Macedonia as it has a province with the same name in the north.
Under the deal Macedonia has agreed to change its name to North Macedonia, for which it needs constitutional changes, opposed by some of the population.
According to the Macedonian government state- ment, Mattis praised the historic name deal signed in Prespes, saying that it will open the door for Macedonia to become the 30th member of Nato. The alliance invited Macedonia to become a mem- ber on July 12 on the condition it implements the name deal with Greece.
Mattis’ visit was also intended to support Mac- edonia during its expected Nato accession, and to reiterate the US commitment to peace and security in the region. This was the first visit of a US defence secretary to Macedonia in the last 14 years.
Mattis was the latest of a series of Western lead- ers, including Nato secretary general Jens Stolten- berg and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to visit Macedonia to urge people to support the name agreement.
Zaev said at the news conference that for Macedo- nia, there is no alternative to Nato and EU integra- tion, which he said is confirmed by the vast major- ity of citizens.
The main opposition party, VMRO-DPMNE, does not support the name deal, even while saying it
is for Nato and EU integration. It claims that the agreement is harmful and against the country’s national interests. However, its leader Hristijan Mickoski did not openly urge people to boycott the referendum, but said they should vote according to their consciences.
In Skopje, Mattis also met Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov, who is close to VMRO-DPMNE and is against the name deal.
Earlier, 28 Macedonian rightwing political parties and NGOs led by the small pro-Russian United Macedonia party launched a campaign to boycott the plebiscite.
Suspected meddling in Greece
Greece has also accused Russia of meddling as it seeks a rapprochement with its northern neigh- bour. Two Russian diplomats were expelled from Greece recently, and two other Russian citizens banned from entering the country, after Athens ac- cused Moscow of trying to foment opposition to the name deal.
The Greek authorities claimed the Russian diplo- mats were encouraging rallies in Greece to op- pose the name deal, including offering bribes to opponents of the agreement. Russia denies such allegations.
Zaev has played down the allegations of Rus-
sian meddling the referendum, saying there is not evidence of interference. The Macedonian prime minister has been focussing on the campaign to persuade people to get out and vote yes on Sep- tember 30. On September 16, thousands of people led by Zaev and other senior government officials marched in Skopje with the aim of convincing peo- ple to vote yes in the upcoming referendum
Turnout in the referendum is of great importance as 50% plus one voter must take part in the plebi- scite for it to be successful. A majority of those who do vote are expected to support the changes to allow the country to advance in its EU and Nato integration processes, according to opinion polls.