Election officials reported that at 6.30pm local time, half an hour before polls close, the turnout stood at 34%. Greece, arguing its small neighbour’s name implied territorial ambitions on its own Macedonia province, has blocked the country’s efforts to join Nato. The Macedonian Constitution requires a minimum turnout of 50% of eligible voters for a binding referendum. It’s wrong to change the constitution, it’s wrong to change the name.”Djose Tanevski was among the early voters in Skopje, the Macedonian capital. Mr Mattis said there was “no doubt” that Moscow had funded groups inside Macedonia to campaign against the name change.

Source: Irish Independent September 30, 2018 18:22 UTC