Macedonia launches NATO talks this week

On Thursday and Friday officially, NATO membership talks begin.

National Coordinator for NATO, Stevo Pendarovski, said the country's NATO integration committee has compiled a draft reforms they will discuss with representatives of the Alliance. Pendarovki clarified details of this week's talks.

Accompanying talks Thursday and Friday will be held at two sessions. The first would include political and defence issues, for fulfilling the conditions for membership. While the second includes issues related to resources, security, judicial aspects, as well as Macedonia's contribution to the Alliance's common budget.

At this stage of the talks, the timeframe for completing them will also be confirmed, Stevo Pendarovski, the National Coordinator for NATO, said.

Defence Minister Radmila Sekerinska and Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov stressed that the only way for the country's NATO membership is to implement the Prespa Agreement.

So they called on all MPs to overcome party interests and support constitutional changes stemming from the agreement.

By contrast, the ministers are convinced that the necessary number of MPs will be secured through early parliamentary elections.

The “Deputies of all political parties lie ahead of historic opportunity and historical responsibility. Pressing the “button for” will take part in the last steps of the 27-year-old marathon for membership of our country in NATO.

Macedonia's success depends on their decision. No one has a right to take rights to these citizens and this country that long hosted the good news”, said Radmila Sekerinska, the defence minister.

There is no more patriotism than taking responsibility and vision for the future. We did this as Government, initiated the constitutional changes that are in the context of the success of this process. Now everything is in the hands of deputies. Nothing is more important than the historic moment before us, neither parties nor future elections, nor political careers”- stressed Nikola Dimitrov, foreign minister.

NATO membership talks will last until the end of the year. In January Macedonia will sign the protocol for membership, with which it will be eligible to participate in all NATO processing troops, but without the right to vote.

The country's membership in the Alliance can only happen after all member states ratify the protocol for membership.