Greece, which has held a tight grip on the border area at Gevgelija for decades, has agreed to drop longstanding objections to Macedonia’s bids to join NATO and eventually the European Union, if the new name is approved.
One of the main reasons for the dispute is Greece’s denial of its neighbour’s name and heritage.
Despite the historical issues and modern day problems between two countries, thousands of Greeks travel daily to Gevgelija for food shopping, refuelling and gambling.
They also travel for medical treatment with some services up to 50 percent cheaper on the Macedonian side.
Doctor Venci Karapeev, the owner of “Karadent “dental surgery in Gevgelija, said a name change would bring more Greek visitors and shoppers to the small border town.
Residents of Gevgelija seem to share Karapeev’s optimism. Many can’t wait for the name change to come into practice, as they expect thousands more Greeks to come and spend money in their shops and businesses.
Skopje and Athens struck a deal in June after months of tough negotiations. The Macedonian parliament approved the deal in July and if voters back the agreement in the referendum, the next step will be for Macedonia to amend its constitution.
The final step for NATO admission is ratification by Greece’s parliament, which would vote only after Macedonia completes all the necessary procedures.
The question voters will decide on this weekend is: “Are you in favour of membership in the European Union and NATO by accepting the deal between Republic of Macedonia and Republic of Greece?”.
