Macedonia: referendum on name, premier will vote 'yes'
Opposition leader, conscience vote. Final appeals
25 September, 12:06Social Democratic premier Zoran Zaev, who is a great supporter of the agreement, reiterated his invitation to vote 'yes', saying he was confident about the people's wisdom.
''Citizens will make a wise decision because they love their country and will show a sense of responsibility for their children. Everyone knows that we have reached a compromise agreement that is helping our country end a long standoff'', Zaev said talking in Negorino last night.
''We put an end to isolation, it is time for us to integrate and become citizens of the European Union'', the premier added, quoted in local media. Through the agreement signed in June, Greece has committed itself to removing the veto on Macedonia's path towards the EU and Nato membership. The leader of the conservative opposition, Hristijan Mickoski, while reiterating for his part that he is against the agreement with Greece, has given voters freedom of choice, inviting them to vote according to their conscience. Mickoski, who is the leader of the Vmro-Dpmne party, has not said how he will vote on Sunday. Yesterday, Macedonia's president Gjorgje Ivanov (conservative), who opposed the name agreement, said he did not intend to go to vote on Sunday's referendum. The conservatives are in favour of the EU and Nato but do not accept the agreement with Athens, which is deemed harmful to the Macedonian national interests.
(ANSA).