The Ohrid Group calls for support of the referendum

You will have the opportunity to make a historic choice on September 30. Do you want to open the path of your country’s membership in NATO and EU by supporting the agreement with Greece? We, The Ohrid Group, urge you to say Yes, reads a special op-ed of the group in light of the referendum in Macedonia this fall.
The Ohrid Group is an informal group comprised of current and former politicians and senior officials, established in April of this year towards supporting Macedonia on its road to NATO and EU accession.
The group is chaired by former NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson, along with foreign EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, former Swedish PM and foreign minister Carl Bildt, former Bulgarian president Rosen Plevneliev, renowned diplomats Robert Gelbard, Alain Le Roy, Wolfgang Ischinger, Atlantic Council executive vice-president Damon Wilson, former Queen Elizabeth II private secretary Christopher Geidt, Lieutenant-General Barney White-Spunner, and political analyst Zoran Cicak as members.
“We are a group of experienced international statesmen, diplomats, army officials and experts who are deeply engaged in helping your country in the past twenty years. Many of us are with you from the early years of this century, including the negotiations on the Ohrid Agreement. We were also part of the NATO operations. We are proud that we can help you overcome these difficult times. We all have left parts of us in your beautiful country, and that’s why we want to see you go forward, towards a better future which you deserve.

“In mid-June this year, the governments of Zoran Zaev and Alexis Tsipras reached a historic agreement on the name of Macedonia and thus ended the dispute that lasted too long. The EU and NATO have recognized the success and invited you to join, if you support the agreement with Greece. Your parliament voted for a referendum on September 30, when you can show this support. We see this as a ‘Now or Never’ moment for your country, for you, and for your children’s’ future. Many of us remember the bad days for the Western Balkans in the 1990s, the ethnic violence, the violence and the mistrust. Those days must remain in the past. The NATO membership guarantees the security, the EU membership will bring economic growth, investments, jobs, access to European programmes that will improve your lives,” says The Ohrid Group.
It adds that a Yes vote at the referendum supports the respect for the human rights, rule of law, media freedom and other fundamental European values, the cornerstones of EU and NATO.
“The Yes vote does not solve all problems but opens the path towards EU accession and gives a clear objective and legitimate belief that the goal will be achieved,” stresses The Ohrid Group.
According to the group, future efforts should focus on securing a better life for country’s citizens.
“Your country may be small, but it has a proud history. There were various battles. However, your future efforts should be aimed at providing a better life in the coming years. You deserve to step again on the big stage, so that your citizens’ talents secure their prosperity and opportunities as part of the European community. A Yes vote will be a vote for the future, your future.This is your choice, we call on you to do it,” underlines The Ohrid Group.