This Sunday’s referendum in Macedonia on the “name” agreement with Greece is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for the country to overcome the long-standing Greek blockade on its path to EU and NATO membership, observers say.
They warn that another chance is unlikely to come in the foreseeable future.
“This is last-chance saloon for this generation [of Macedonians] to resolve this bilateral dispute,” Kurt Bassuener, Senior Associate at the Democratization Policy Council, said.
A high turnout for the referendum, and a clear majority voting in favour of the agreement, are seen as keys to ensuring its success.
All the other outcomes involve great risks for the country, potentially isolating the country from its southern neighbour – and from its key strategic goals.
