US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed strong support for Macedonia’s accession to NATO, the media in Skopje reported on Wednesday quoting Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov.

Speaking after his meeting with Pompeo in Washington, Dimitrov said their talks were encouraging. “The timing of this meeting (a month prior to the referendum on the country’s new name) is hugely important. We are focused on what we have to do. We need the referendum to confirm the agreement we reached with our friends in Greece. We should have the people with us on the name. That will open the way to the future, to NATO and the European Union,” Dimitrov said.  

The foreign minister said an active campaign would be launched prior to the coming referendum to explain what he said is the historic importance of the deal with Greece and accession to NATO.  

Skoplje and Athens reached agreement to resolve their long-running dispute over the name Macedonia earlier this year. The name – North Macedonia – agreed by the two governments has to be confirmed at the September 30 referendum before the country can start accession talks with the European Union and NATO.  

The agreement is fiercely disputed by the opposition VMRO DPMNE and President Gjorge Ivanov and a group of nationalist organisations.  

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