A referendum for two countries

If the voters of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia approve of the Prespes agreement in Sunday's referendum, then the political tension that now grips our neighbor will immediately move to Greece. If the enemies of the agreement hold sway, and the majority either votes it down or enough voters stay away, then the Greeks will be absolved of responsibility for what happens next.

Recent polls suggest that the majority in FYROM believe that the compromise with Greece is worthwhile, as it will allow their country to eventually join the European Union and NATO. It is unclear, though, whether President Gjorge Ivanov's opposition to the agreement will lead to less than 50 percent participation in the vote - a result which the main opposition party claims will nullify the agreement. Prime Minister Zoran Zaev's government insists that the result will depend solely on the...