Meta Urges Macedonia Albanians to Vote 'Yes' to Deal

Albanian President Ilir Meta has said that a positive result in the upcoming referendum on the Greece-Macedonia "name" deal would be "victory of all political forces" and called on Macedonia's large Albanian community to support it.

"I believe and at the same time appeal to all Albanians in Macedonia to participate in the referendum on September 30 and to vote for the agreement, which will open a new chapter not only for the integration of Macedonia but for the future in this country, too," Meta said on Wednesday in interview with Albania Daily News.

He added that a positive result in the September referendum would be "victory of all political forces" that support EU and NATO integration.

Meta recalled that Albanians, who make up about 25 per cent of Macedonia's population, according to the 2002 census, have an important roleto play in Macedonia's process of internal transformation and Euro-Atlantic integration.   

The referendum on September 30 will ask voters if they back Macedonia's accession to NATO and the EU by accepting the agreement with Greece that was signed in June.

Under the deal's terms, Macedonia agreed to change its name to Republic of North Macedonia, while Greece agreed to lift its veto on Macedonia's NATO and EU integration.

For the deal to be fully implemented, Macedonians must show they support it in a referendum.

Macedonia's president and main opposition VMRO DPMNE party have denounced the deal as treasonous, putting the success of the referendum in doubt.

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