End the Name Dispute
On Sunday, the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia will vote on the new name North Macedonia, which is intended to bring an end to the Greek blockade against the country’s EU accession. A commentary by Karl von Habsburg.
“Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, abbreviated internationally as FYROM, is currently the internationally recognised name of the Republic of Macedonia. Since the break-up of the former Yugoslavia (at which time the country was the “Socialist Republic of Macedonia” within Yugoslavia), this Southeast European country has been struggling against a blockade by its southern neighbour. For 27 years now, Greece has succeeded in thwarting Macedonia’s ambitions for membership in the European Union and NATO. Because a province in Greece is also called Macedonia, Athens fears that recognising Macedonia under the name Macedonia would imply territorial claims on Greek soil. Absurd as this assumption may be, Greece has successfully maintained its blockade for almost three decades.
Now, the heads of government of both countries have agreed in an accord that FYROM – that is, the Republic of Macedonia – should be internationally recognised under the name “North Macedonia”. This would clear the path for the Balkan country to join the EU and NATO.
On Sunday 30 September 2018, the citizens of Macedonia will vote on this proposed name. In order for the name to be changed, the constitution must be amended; this requires a vote in which at least 50 per cent of eligible voters must participate for it to be valid.
Naturally, one could debate at length whether North Macedonia is the right name. But a Macedonian will continue to call themselves a Macedonian; the identity of the population is not at risk. Nevertheless, the country is divided on the issue. In particular, representatives of the VMRO party, now in opposition – which traces its roots back to the IMRO, a liberation organisation against Ottoman rule – are against the compromise, and some are even calling for a boycott of the referendum. Such nationalist outbursts do the country no real service. The majority of the population sees its future in the EU, and settling the name dispute is the prerequisite for that future. It is therefore an imperative of reason to accept the name change.
Of course, the EU could have provided the Macedonians with better arguments for a “Yes” vote, such as a fixed and binding commitment that accession negotiations would begin immediately after the constitutional amendment. Thus, the referendum is also a call for the EU to show strength in the future and to no longer tolerate blackmail by individual countries, as in this case by Greece.
The article originally appeared on the website of Karl von Habsburg.
