US Advises Citizens In Macedonia To Avoid Upcoming Protests - Embassy

US citizens along with government workers in Macedonia have been urged to avoid certain areas in the country's capital over the next couple of days due to expected protests against the upcoming national referendum on the Prespa name agreement with Greece, the US Embassy in Skopje said in a press release on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th September, 2018) US citizens along with government workers in Macedonia have been urged to avoid certain areas in the country's capital over the next couple of days due to expected protests against the upcoming national referendum on the Prespa name agreement with Greece, the US Embassy in Skopje said in a press release on Wednesday.

"Spontaneous, unannounced demonstrations might also occur in Skopje and in other parts of the country during this period. US government personnel are advised to avoid any areas where demonstrations might occur," the release said.

The embassy added that demonstrations are expected to take place at the Parliament House on September 27 and 30, and at Skopje Main Square on September 30.

Under the terms of the Prespa name agreement, which was reached in June, Macedonia will be officially be renamed the Republic of North Macedonia, ending a decades-long name dispute between the two countries.

Macedonia gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. Athens has been at odds with the country over its name, claiming that Macedonia might have territorial claims to Greece's own region of the same name.