The press conference that was organized for NATO’s Day, 4th April is a traditional and continuous activity of the Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Macedonia and the NATO Liaison Office. The press conference serves to brief the public on the progress that the Republic of Macedonia makes regarding the integration processes and to mark NATO’s day, 4th April.



On the celebration of 65th anniversary of NATO the following speakers took participation on the press conference:
-    H.E. Talat Xhaferi, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Macedonia;
-    Mr. Ismet Ramadani, vice-president of the Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia;
-    Colonel Aleksandar Aleksandrov, Chief of NATO Liaison Office in Skopje.

The first one to address the public was H.E. Talat Xhaferi. In his speech, Mr. Xhaferi said:

The Republic of Macedonia shares and promotes the same values and interests with the member states of the Alliance. We see NATO membership as an essential precondition for implementation of safety and stability that will positively affect the business climate, the economic growth and well-being of our citizens. The NATO Alliance, since its establishment until today, has been a democratic tool and a true safety promoter of the shared common civilization and democratic values of the peace, stability, safety and well-being of the citizens, not only for the member states but for the whole Euro-Atlantic region.

Colonel Aleksandar Aleksandrov said:

I always look at these events a strong enthusiasm and commitment to the idea of NATO. The potential of NATO member states is enormous regarding the military possibilities, economic capacities and the participation in the policy making processes. The capability of the Alliance for self-development in today’s circumstances lies in the principles of its creation.



Mr. Ismet Ramadani, the vice-president of the Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia stated:

As you already know, the Republic of Macedonia fulfilled the criteria for full-fledged membership in 2008. After the Bucharest Summit and the conclusions that were adopted there we all know that we do not need a Summit for admission because Macedonia can receive a full-fledged membership on any Wednesday after finding a solution for the dispute with Greece. Now, before the forthcoming Summit we cannot say that something will change from Chicago, but we must publicly express our support to the initiatives of the American senators and the Atlantic movements for reception of Macedonia into NATO. Today, the world we live in is much more different compared to one month ago; we have the situation in Ukraine and it may influence for this Summit to be an enlargement Summit.
In the second part of my address, I, being a dedicated atlanticist and representative of an organization that cherishes the Euro-Atlantic values – democracy, freedom, safety, rule of law – would like to send a message to all political stakeholders in the Republic of Macedonia. The Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia calls for free, just and democratic elections, both on parliamentary and presidential level. I would also like to urge the presidential candidates and the political parties to put the Euro-Atlantic integration on the first position of the priorities in the Republic of Macedonia.

On this event the Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia once again increased the public debate and its visibility regarding the benefit that the Republic of Macedonia will gain from the NATO membership.

The event took place on 4th April 2014 (Friday) in the Army Hall in Skopje at 10.30 hours.