Macedonia Referendum Talks Halt Without Breakthrough

Talks between Macedonia's main ruling Social Democrats, led by Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, and the main opposition VMRO DPMNE party, led by Hristijan Mickovski, failed to clear the path on Thursday towards a referendum on the historic "name" deal with Greece.

The two sides said they remained unable to agree on key issues like the formation of the State Electoral Commission, DIK, which will prepare the plebiscite, or on the plebiscite question.

"We will give chance to talks [with the opposition] as long as that is possible," Zaev said after Thursday's meeting, which lasted for more than four hours.

Regarding speculation that the opposition may have demanded an amnesty for its officials and supporters now on trial for past crimes, and for last year's April 27 attack on parliament - in exchange for allowing the formation of the DIK - Zaev said only that this would be unacceptable.

 Macedonia Parliament Supports NATO Bid Macedonia's parliament on Thursday adopted a declaration supporting the country's bid to join NATO, after the alliance formally invited the country to join once it fully implements the "name" deal with Greece.

All 76 lawmakers present in the 120-member parliament voted in favour of the declaration, including the opposition VMRO-DPMNE party which calls the "name" deal was a national capitulation.

VMRO DPMNE MP Dragan Danev said his party would make a "strong contribution" to the country's efforts to join NATO.
 
Last week, NATO invited Macedonia to start membership talks, on the condition that the country proceed as planned and implement the "name" agreement.

"The strategic goals of our country and of all the parliamentary parties are full EU and NATO memberships. There are no...

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