Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, center, takes a part in a march holding a banner that reads “Come out for European Macedonia”, in downtown Skopje, Macedonia, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. (Boris Grdanoski/Associated Press)SKOPJE, Macedonia — Thousands of people marched in Macedonia’s capital Sunday to promote support for changing the country’s name in an upcoming referendum that also could clear the way for NATO membership. Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, who reached the agreement with Greece’s prime minister in June, addressed the marchers in front of the EU’s office in Skopje. He urged citizens to grasp a historic opportunity and back the name deal, which he described as “fair.”“The message is: We want the future, we want a European Macedonia! Despite the forceful words, VMRO-DPMNE and the rest of Macedonia’s political opposition have advised supporters to vote according to their consciences.

Source: Washington Post September 16, 2018 15:30 UTC