The Greek government has noted the "contradictory" results from Macedonia's referendum — overwhelming approval, but low voter turnout — on the two countries' deal to resolve a decades-long dispute over the Macedonia name. The referendum asked voters whether they backed a deal with Greece that would change their nation's name to North Macedonia to pave the way for NATO membership. The deal with Greece, signed in June, would end a dispute dating from the early 1990s, when Macedonia declared independence from Yugoslavia. Opponents of the name deal with Greece, which include President Gjorge Ivanov, have called for a boycott of the vote. Opponents in Macedonia include the country's president, Gjorge Ivanov, who has called the deal a "flagrant violation of sovereignty."

Source: ABC News September 30, 2018 08:12 UTC