Zaev talks with Chancellor Merkel, what did they say about the referendum?

Macedonia on September 30th organises referendum on Agreement with Greece on Changes of Name in Northern Macedonia, which, if successful, must be confirmed with constitutional changes by the end of the year, which is the key condition for Macedonian integration into NATO.

Macedonia's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has phoned German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the referendum, which will be held and implementation of the Agreement with Greece, the Macedonian government has announced, broadcast newspapers.net.

As reported in the statement, Chancellor Merkel has confirmed Germany's support for the Macedonia and Greece agreement on the long-term settlement of the dispute, which has been the biggest hostage to Macedonia's EU and NATO membership.

The “in this direction has jointly been found that the referendum is a climactic democratic act and the expression of citizens' orientation for the future of the state”, says the statement, and adds that Zaev has informed Chancellor Merkel of the course of the referendum arrangements.

Macedonia on September 30th organises the referendum on the Agreement with Greece on changing the name to Northern Macedonia, which, if successful, must be confirmed with constitutional changes by the end of the year, which is the key condition for Macedonian integration into NATO.

Macedonia's government, as Zaev noted, “is dedicated to organising fair, democratic and transparent towns for the realisation of the democratic declaration of citizens”.

He has also informed Chancellor Merkel that the Macedonian government “is actively continuing reform efforts, which lead to the fulfilment of conditions from the June European Council's conclusions of this year”, which are among the conditions for starting negotiations with the EU.

German Chancellor has given support to the government's “efforts and the social-political public in Macedonia for strengthening the Euro-Atlantic prospects of Macedonian citizens”