EU enlargement chief urges FYROM citizens to back name deal

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will take a big step to joining the European Union if the country supports a name change to "North Macedonia," the official in charge of the bloc's enlargement negotiations said Tuesday. 

Following talks with FYROM'S Prime Minister Zoran Zaev in the capital Skopje, Johannes Hahn said the September 30 vote is a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity for FYROM citizens to improve their daily lives. 

A vote to authorize the name change would be an important step towards resolving a long-standing dispute with neighbor Greece, which has blocked FYROM's EU accession as well as its membership to NATO. Greece has long sought the name change because it says the current one implies claims on its own northern province of Macedonia, and on its ancient heritage. 

Dozens of western officials including German chancellor Angela Merkel, NATO...