Yesterday it became known that the president of Macedonia, George Ivanov, on September 30 will not participate in the referendum on renaming the country to Northern Macedonia. Thus, he boycotted the referendum and called on the citizens of the country.

What will be the results of the referendum and what are the odds of the country to join the EU and NATO? Eurasia Diary asked a political scientist, an expert on the Balkan countries, director of the Coordinating Bureau for European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine in 2008-10 Vadim Truikhan to comment on these questions.

Vadim Truikhan - political analyst

He deems that the name “Macedonia” remains as a sticking point on the way for the accession of this country to the EU and NATO for 30 years.

"At the same time, in the face of increasing threats, both internal and external threats, and amid the accession of neighbor Montenegro to NATO, this issue is becoming increasingly important. It is noteworthy that the rename of the country as the "Republic of North Macedonia” is backed by Macedonian parties, which constitute a majority in parliament as well as Albanian minority”- expert said.

Vadim Truikhan noted that question itself which was formulated for the referendum on 30^th of September concerns not only the renaming of F.R of Macedonia but also the accession of the country to the EU and NATO.

The question is formulated in the next way "Do you support membership in the EU and NATO, accepting the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the Greek Republic?”

The political scientist cited current statistics that according to recent opinion polls, more than 40% of Macedonians will vote "in favor" and only about 10% "against".

"Therefore, despite the resistance from opposition parties and the President of Macedonia, who holds a pro-Russian position, the odds for a positive solution of the issue and, accordingly, the subsequent accession of Macedonia to the EU and NATO are greater than ever. The historical chance that the Macedonians had acquired must be used unconditionally. "

Let us remind that Macedonia became a fully independent state only after it withdrew from Yugoslavia in 1991. Neighboring Greece opposed the emergence of a sovereign state under the name of Macedonia because Greece itself has a historical region under this name. Athens feared Skopje’s claims on their territory.

The agreement on the renaming as the “Northern Republic of Macedonia” between Macedonia and Greece was signed in June 2018. As the president of Macedonia George Ivanov reversed to sign the law on ratification of this agreement, the populations of the country will determine his fate during the referendum. If this agreement will come into force, the last obstacle on the way of the accession of Macedonia to the EU and NATO will be eliminated.

Interviewed by Natalia Guliyeva 

Translated from Russian by Akber Bayramov

Correspondents of Eurasia Diary