Macedonia to Vote on Name Change

In 1991, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) declared its independence from a dissolving Yugoslavia and called itself the Republic of Macedonia. But the name choice angered neighboring Greece, which has its own province named Macedonia and accused the new country of cultural appropriation. On Sunday, FYROM will ask its citizens to approve a name change that aims to end the long-running dispute. Eurasia Group expert Mujtaba Rahman explains what the vote is all about.


Why does Macedonia want to change its name?

Under a deal with Greece struck this summer, FYROM agreed to change its name to the Republic of North Macedonia. In exchange, Greece said it would lift its long-standing veto that was blocking Macedonia's NATO and EU membership.

The name North Macedonia would be used internationally, so even the 140 or more countries that currently recognize the name Republic of Macedonia would also have to adopt the new one. But for the deal to be fully implemented, citizens of FYROM must show they support it in a referendum.

In 2004, FYROM submitted an application to join the EU, and in 2006 NATO offered the prospect of inviting it to become a member. The small landlocked nation wants to join these bodies to strengthen ties with the West, attract investment, and raise the standard of living for its citizens.


Why does Greece get to veto another country's name?

As an EU and NATO member, Greece has veto power over the entry of new countries. Its opposition to the use of the name “Macedonia” forced a compromise when the new country was admitted to the UN in 1993—hence, FYROM.

At the core of the dispute is a claim to the heritage of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia and to its leaders Philip II and Alexander the Great, who conquered much of the known world in the fourth century B.C. These ancient legends were born in what is today Greece, though their kingdom encompassed much of modern-day Macedonia.

Greek politicians argue its neighbor's use of the name implies a territorial claim to the Greek province in the country's north, which includes the country's second city, Thessaloniki.


What happens if the weekend's referendum passes? What happens if it fails?

Macedonia's foreign minister has indicated that the result of this Sunday's referendum in the Balkan state is not necessarily binding. Nikola Dimitrov said that if participation is less than 50%, then the decision whether to ratify the deal will lie with parliament.

The government has the legal right to not comply with a negative result, as the referendum will only be consultative. This means that parliament can vote in favor of the agreement without requiring the consent of the electorate. However, if the government decides to move in that direction, it is highly likely that it would raise tensions in the small Balkan state, where plenty are urging voters to boycott the vote.

Under the terms of the deal, a yes vote would be followed by ratifications to FYROM's constitution by the end of the year, before Greece's parliament is called to ratify the deal. The constitutional changes relate to the claimed connections with ancient Macedonia.

The name deal has faced opposition in both countries, including from the junior government coalition partner in Greece, which on occasion has threatened to walk out. Many Greeks oppose any name for its neighboring country that includes the word “Macedonia.”


Why does the international community care about the name dispute?

The agreement signed between the Prime Minister Zoran Zaef and his Greek counterpart, Alexis Tsipras, was widely praised in Brussels, Washington, and EU capitals. Germany and governments from central and eastern Europe insist the EU must keep Balkan countries in its orbit to counter increased influence from rival powers. The deal clears the way for opening membership talks, a procedure that will give the EU greater leverage to push for more democracy and rule of law in candidate countries and bolster pro-EU leaders there.

The US has also supported the deal and has accused Russia of meddling with the referendum and of funding groups to influence the upcoming vote. Common belief is that Russia opposes the idea of the small state gaining NATO membership and expanding the reach of the alliance in the western Balkans.

The German and Austrian chancellors and the NATO secretary-general have all visited FYROM over the past few weeks, a sign of strong Western support for the process. The visits could bolster the government in Skopje and help ensure approval of the name change.