Mattis Accuses Russia of Meddling in Macedonian Referendum

The US is ready to welcome Macedonia as NATO's 30th member if its citizens decide to support this path at the forthcoming referendum, US Defense Secretary James Mattis said in Skopje on Monday after meeting Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Defence Minister Radmila Shekerinska.

He described the September 30 referendum, which may pave the country's way into NATO and the EU, as probably the most important decision in Macedonia's recent history.

Under a deal signed with Greece this summer, Macedonia agreed to change its name to the Republic of North Macedonia, while Greece agreed to lift its long-standing veto on Macedonia's NATO and EU integration.

But for the deal to end the dispute to be fully implemented, Macedonians must show they support it in a referendum on September 30.

En route to Skopje, Mattis also told reporters travelling with him that the US has "no doubt" that Russia has funded groups seeking to defeat the referendum.

"They have transferred money and they're also conducting broader influence campaigns," Mattis said, the Washington Post reported on Monday.

He added that while Russia is secretly passing money to people behind the scenes and trying to form puppet parties in Macedonia, the US is open and up-front in expressing its support for a "yes" vote in the referendum.

"We ought to leave the Macedonian people to make up their own minds," Mattis said.

Russia strongly opposes NATO's further enlargement in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, and the US has accused it of running a disinformation campaign in Macedonia through social media, designed to discourage voters from taking part in the referendum.

Macedonia's Prime Minister sounded a more cautious note on Monday,...