More than half of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) citizens agree that the Balkan nation should join NATO and the European Union under the name “Republic of North Macedonia” as per the deal signed with Greece, a recent poll shows.
The poll was conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) and 57 percent of respondents said they fully or partially agree with their country using that name to join the two organizations, while 38 percent said they disagree. Overall, 83 percent said they were in favor of FYROM joining the EU, while 77 percent want to be part of NATO.
FYROM can join NATO and the EU only if Greece, as a member of both, gives the green light. Since 1992, Greece objected to the Balkan northern neighbor using the term “Macedonia” as its name and had compromised with the use of FYROM. The objection was preventing Skopje to join NATO and the EU.
The agreement signed on the shores of Lake Prespa by the prime ministers and foreign ministers of Greece and FYROM, entails that the Balkan country will change its name to Republic of North Macedonia, and in return, Athens will lift its objections to the country joining the EU and NATO.
FYROM’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev will hold a referendum to ratify the deal on September 30.
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