Macedonia’s president says he won’t vote in name change referendum

President Gjorge Ivanov reiterated his position that the deal with Greece is 'harmful and defeating' for Macedonia, according to a statement released by his office Sunday.

People waving Macedonian and EU flags take part in a march named “For European Macedonia”, through a street in Skopje, Macedonia, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. Thousands of people marched in downtown of capital Skopje Sunday to support a forthcoming key referendum on changing Macedonia’s name that could clear the way for the country to join NATO. (AP Photo)

Macedonia’s president says he won’t vote in a September 30 referendum on whether to change the Balkan country’s name to ‘North Macedonia.’

President Gjorge Ivanov was speaking to members of the Macedonian diaspora in Detroit on Saturday. He reiterated his position that the deal with Greece is ‘harmful and defeating’ for Macedonia, according to a statement released by his office Sunday.

Macedonians will vote next weekend on a proposal to change the country’s name, ending a long-running dispute with neighbouring Greece, which sees the use of the term “Macedonia “ as a claim on its own province of the same name.

Read | Macedonia: Thousands protest over country’s name change

Polls indicate Macedonians will likely back the deal, but it remains unclear whether turnout will meet the required 50 per cent threshold for the vote to be valid.

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