Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov has urged voters to abstain from a referendum that would change their name to ‘North Macedonia’.
The referendum, to take place on Sunday, September 30, intended to further differentiate the former Balkan State from the Northern Greek province also called Macedonia.
As a result of the State of Macedonia sharing names with the Greek Province, Greece has been barring them from entering both NATO and the European Union.
Mr Ivanov says by changing their name to ‘North Macedonia’, the country is being asked to commit ‘historical suicide’.