US Voices Support for Macedonia's EU-NATO Integration

During Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov's three-day visit to the US, Secreary of State Mike Pompeo has voiced support for the historic "name" agreement between Skopje and Athens, stressing the importance of its implementation for the country's Euro-Atlantic future.

"The Secretary expressed his support for the Prespa Agreement [with Greece], the implementation of which will allow the country to join NATO as North Macedonia, and facilitate the opening of accession negotiations with the European Union," the State Department wrote after the meeting.

Under the so-called "name" deal, signed 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 on this long-standing dispute to be fully implemented, Macedonians must show they support it in a referendum due on September 30.

"The Secretary [of State] noted the referendum presented an opportunity for citizens to voice their opinions on an issue of vital importance to the future of Macedonia," the State Department wrote.

Speaking after his meeting with Pompeo, Dimitrov said that their talks were encouraging and that the US's support was coming at the right time.

"The timing of this meeting [ahead of the referendum in Macedonia] is very important. We are focused on what we have to do.

"We need the referendum to confirm the agreement we reached with our friends in Greece. We should have the people backing us on the name [agreement]. That will open the way to the future, to NATO and the European Union," Dimitrov said.  

While the Macedonian government promotes the agreement as a way towards better future, which...

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