Prime Minister Zaev ended his campaign for a ‘Yes’ vote in Sunday’s referendum in Tetovo with a final appeal for a big turnout – while boycott advocate President Ivanov in New York complained that his country was being asked to commit suicide.
Ahead of Sunday’s referendum in Macedonia on the country’s historic agreement with Greece, the “Yes” camp, led by Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, wrapped up their campaign “For European Macedonia” in the northwestern town of Tetovo, urging a large turnout and national unity, regardless of political affiliations.
During the pre-election silence that began on Friday, no futher campaigning is allowed. On Sunday, around 1.8 million voters must choose whether or not to support the Greece-Macedonia “name” agreement reached this summer. A “yes” vote will ease Macedonia’s path to EU and NATO membership.
“Here we are, united as never before. Let this generation [citizens] leave a mark [stating that] we have mustered the courage to secure the future of this multi-ethnic Macedonia,” Zaev said at a public debate on Thursday in Tetovo.
“On September 30, all together, consensually, we have a duty to come out and vote for a European Macedonia because our children and future are at stake,” Zaev added.
Under the deal signed with Greece this summer, Macedonia agreed to change its name to the Republic of North Macedonia, while Greece agreed to lift its long-standing veto on Macedonia’s NATO and EU integration.
But for the deal to take effect, the people first have to answer the referendum question: “Do you support EU and NATO membership by accepting the deal between Macedonia and Greece?”
The “Yes” camp has insisted that the deal is fair and dignified, allowing the country to move forward, while not jeopardizing Macedonian ethnicity and language.
The main opposition VMRO DPMNE party opposes the agreement, insisting it is an act of capitulation.
However, the party has not run a classic “No” campaign, did not call on its supporters to vote at all and did not offer an alternative strategy concerning the country’s Euro-Atlantic path.
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