Macedonia in NATO “for a year and a half”

Macedonia formally launched NATO membership talks Wednesday after 12 July receiving the invitation.

A delegation arrived in Skopje NATO, led by Director for European and Global Affairs James McKee, who with Macedonia institutions will discuss political, security, defence and financial issues under membership negotiations.

At the joint media conference with Macedonia's national co-ordinator for NATO membership, Stevo Pendarovski, McKee voiced hope that Macedonia -- approximately a year and a half -- will become NATO's 30th member.

“Take into account previous experiences, the whole process should last about 18 months”, McKee said.

Macedonia's NATO doors have opened the agreement with Greece on the name issue.

However, Macedonia's membership in this mechanism is conditioned with full implementation of the Agreement with Greece, with which its name changes to Northern Macedonia.