US defense chief to visit FYROM, concerned about Russian 'mischief'

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has said he will visit the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) before a September 30 referendum on changing the country's name, also expressing concern about suspected Russian interference in the vote, which Moscow denies.

FYROM scheduled the referendum on the government's deal in June with neighboring Greece to change its name to the Republic of North Macedonia which would open the door for it to join NATO and the European Union.

"I am concerned about it... The kind of mischief that Russia has practiced from Estonia to the United States, from Ukraine and now to Macedonia, it always has adapted to the specific situation and it's always beyond the pale," Mattis, who will visit FYROM over the weekend, told reporters on Tuesday. 

Mattis said he wanted to make it clear the United States supported the people of FYROM.