SKOPJE (Macedonia), August 29 (SeeNews) – Some 57% of Macedonians support EU and NATO accession under the country's newly agreed name, Republic of North Macedonia, local media reported on Wednesday, quoting the results of a poll conduced by U.S.-based International Republican Institute (IRI).
The same share, 57%, believe the benefits of EU accession also justify acceptance of the new name, news agency MIA cited results of the poll released by IRI ahead of the September 30 referendum on the country’s name deal with Greece.
Some 38% of all respondents replied negatively, while 5% declined to answer.
Half of the respondents (49%) intend to vote in favor of resolving the name dispute, compared to 22% who intend to vote against the proposed change, the opinion poll showed.
"As Macedonia approaches this important referendum, the support for a compromise solution on the name dispute that opens the door to EU and NATO membership indicates a strong preference for transatlantic institutions,” said Paul McCarthy, IRI Acting Regional Director for Europe.
Support for EU and NATO membership has continued to rise. Those in favor of Macedonia becoming a member of the EU rose to 83%, a six-point increase from August 2017 and an eleven-point increase from March 2017. Support for NATO also remains strong at 77%, the statement noted.
The survey carried out from June 28 to July 15. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews on a representative sample of 1,100 respondents aged 18 and over. The response rate was 69%.
In July, the Macedonia's parliament approved a decision to hold a referendum on September 30 on a deal with Greece to change the name of the former Yugoslav republic that is expected to open the way for the country to join NATO and the EU.
The agreement between Skopje and Athens aims to resolve a 27-year old dispute between Macedonia and Greece.
The name deal was signed on June 17 by the foreign ministers of Macedonia and Greece, Nikola Dimitrov and Nikos Kotzias, paving the way for the former Yugoslav republic to join NATO and the European Union under its new name of North Macedonia. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Macedonian prime minister Zoran Zaev, Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras and senior representatives of the European Commission.
On July 11, NATO decided to officially invite Macedonia to start accession talks.
Athens has blocked Macedonia’s attempts to join NATO and the EU over the country's name, which according to Greece implies territorial clams on the Greek northernmost province of the same name.