Zaev: Citizens clearly voted ‘FOR’ the agreement, for EU and NATO membership


Over 650,000 citizens voted in the referendum and over 90 percent of them voted ‘FOR’, sending a message that Macedonia should accept the (name) agreement with Greece and become a member of the European Union and NATO, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev told a press conference late Sunday.

“European Macedonia has secured more votes ‘FOR’ than any winner of all elections being held in Macedonia since its independence. The citizens of Macedonia have made a rather significant choice,” Zaev said.

The decision they made today was not simple, Zaev said, extending gratitude to all of those who came out to vote ‘for’ or ‘against’ in the referendum.

He also extended gratitude to members of opposition VMRO-DPMNE, ‘who took a responsibility for their homeland and voted under own will’. The Prime Minister appealed to the opposition and all political parties to unite for the country’s interest and set aside narrow-party interests.  He reiterated that calling of snap elections would be the other alternative.

“I, the opposition and all citizens know that there would not be a better agreement with Greece. There is no alternative to the EU, NATO membership. Let’s not play with our and the future of our Macedonia,’ PM Zaev said.

Taking a journalist’s question Zaev said he did not intend to resign as the referendum result made him more certain in everything he had been doing to bring Macedonia into the EU and NATO.