In case of a final deal on the ‘name’ dispute with Greece, Macedonia plans to put it to a referendum in September or October, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said on Wednesday.
Talks between Macedonia and Greece on Macedonia’s name are in a “delicate” and “final” phase, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said on Wednesday, adding that if a final deal is reached soon, the country plans a referendum in autumn.
“We all agree that a referendum will be held in September or October when we expect the citizens to give us directions for our future moves,” Zaev said.
“I am glad that Greece understood the subtleness of this serious process … and the citizens have to be asked. I hope that the citizens will be responsible towards Macedonia’s future,” the Prime Minister added.
Before the referendum is held, Zaev said the expected agreement would be put to parliament for ratification in order not to waste any time and allow Greece to lift its blockade in NATO so that Macedonia can be invited to join the alliance at the July NATO summit.
Greece has been blocking Macedonia’s NATO invitation, as well as the start of its EU acession talks over the unresolved issue of the country’s name, to which Greece objects.
On Monday, Greece and Macedonia said that they had reached a framework for a possible compromise in the decades-long dispute.
Zaev said he expected to have an important telephone call soon with his Greek counterpart, Alexis Tsipras, over a final deal.
“Today, tomorrow or on Friday at the latest, I will speak with PM Tsipras, after which I expect a breakthrough in the talks,” Zaev said.
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