(30 Sep 2018) Supporters of a movement for voters to boycott Macedonia's name change referendum celebrated Sunday night in central Skopje, after election officials gave low turnout figures before polls closed.
The referendum was held Sunday to determine whether Macedonia would accept a deal with Greece to change the country's name to North Macedonia and to pave the way for NATO membership.
Boycott supporters were cheering and chanting "Macedonia" outside parliament in the capital.
Voter turnout was below 29 per cent two hours before polls were due to close.
The deal with Greece, signed in June, would end a dispute dating from the early 1990s, when Macedonia declared independence from Yugoslavia.
Greece argued that its small neighbour's name implied territorial ambitions on its own Macedonia province and blocked the country's efforts to join NATO.
But the agreement has faced vocal opposition on both sides of the border, with detractors accusing their respective governments of conceding too much to the other side.
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