Survey Shows Limited Support for Name Compromise

The complete survey revealed on Wednesday by one of the country's most read dailies shows that the public is sharply divided over this crucial issue, on which the country’s EU and NATO perspective depends.

Asked if they would accept a geographic determinant to be added to the official name Republic of Macedonia if the identity and the country's EU, NATO membership were guaranteed, 52 per cent of respondents said no, while 44 per cent were in favour.
 
The addition of the determinant “Northern” enjoys the greatest support – 27 per cent, followed by “Vardar” with nine and “Upper Republic of Macedonia” with two per cent.

Asked if Macedonia should continue to search for a name compromise with Greece, 51 per cent of respondents said they should be unilaterally interrupted, while 48 per cent favour their resumption.

However, the survey indicated a significant difference in the opinions of the two main ethnic groups on these issues. 79 percent of ethnic Albanian respondents support the continuation of the talks, whereas the percentage among ethnic Macedonian respondents is much lower, standing at 36 per cent.

The vast majority of ethnic Macedonians - about 80 per cent - believe that in addition to changing the name Greece is demanding that citizens give up their national identity. 44 per cent of ethnic Albanians in the poll share the same opinion.
 
60 per cent of respondents believe that Macedonia may join the EU and NATO without changing its name, while 36 per cent hold the opposite opinion.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's policies enjoy the approval of 48 percent of those surveyed, in comparison to 45 per cent who disapprove. The opposition parties' policies on the name issue are supported by 32 per cent of respondents, while 54 per cent disapprove.

The editor-in-chief of Dnevnik, Saso Kokalanov, presented the data and noted that the survey revealed an interesting pattern related to age groups.

He said that there is larger flexibility regarding the name issue among younger people. A majority of 53 per cent of respondents between the ages of 18 and 29 support efforts to find a compromise, while those older than 65 tend to hold more hardline positions.

Macedonia and Greece have been stuck in a name row for almost two decades. The issue escalated in 2008 when Greece blocked Macedonia’s NATO entry over the dispute. Last December Athens prevented Skopje from getting a start date for its EU accession talks, citing the same problem.

Greece insists that the name Republic of Macedonia must be changed, arguing that it indicates territorial claims against its own northern province, also called Macedonia.

The UN led talks on the issue, which have been going on for years, have so far failed to provide a compromise. Observers have speculated that the determinant "Northern", which could establish the difference between the state and the province, has the greates chance of being accepted by both sides.