The press conference on the occasion of NATO's Day - 4th of 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 contact embassies in 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 the NATO's Day, 4th April.



The Alliance has been contributing in the last 65 years, in the name of democracy, freedom and peace in the world, and it's truly a security promoter. The same goes for Macedonia, who for the past twenty years was an active participant in that same role too. This is the main message of the press conference on the occasion of NATO's Day - 4th of April, i.e.  65 years of the founding of The North Atlantic Alliance, which was organized by the Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia and the Ministry of Defence, as a message and confirmation of the Macedonian dedication towards the North Atlantic integration.

The president of the Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia, Mr. Ismet Ramadani, stated that the 15 MAP process is successful, and the reform process in Macedonia continues constantly up until it's fully North Atlantic integration, which as he said was also recognized by the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg.

Ramadani has emphasized the importance of adhering the NATO values, like the rule of law and freedom of the media, in resolving the current crisis.  At the end, highlighting the future projects of EACM, M-r. Ramadani stated that EACM will continue with the active contributions in promotion of the NATO values and the full membership of Macedonia in the Alliance.

He stated:
- „As contenders for membership in NATO and the EU, and US strategic partners, with whom we cooperate intensively on the process of euroatlantic integrations, we ask again a friendly hand,  and their engagement and mediation, to help us get through the political crisis.“  He also emphasized that, no one has the right to jeopardize the Macedonian citizens’ perspective for NATO and EU membership.



In his speech, the Deputy Minister for Defence of Republic of Macedonia, Arben Labenishta, has summed up the Macedonian pledgement so far, as a state aspirant for NATO membership, through participation and international operations and efforts for reforming the defence. He expressed the necessity of investing in a responsible and committed leadership, maintaining the good neighborly relationships and cherish the democracy and freedom for successful integration of Macedonia in NATO.

He concluded that the Alliancecontinuously is upgrading its primary task for security and freedom of its member states, by adding new member states but also through the network of partnerships with the other democracies around the world.

-    The further enlargement of NATO in the Balkans contributed to the security and democracy in this part of Europe, but the work on this field is not ended until the point when every state in the region, including Macedonia does not become full member states of the Alliance, Labenista stated.

He reminded that this country, for more than 20 years is aspirant for NATO membership and he added that multiple reforms are made in the defense sector and the army, emphasizing that 3500 peacemakers from Macedonia participated in the peace operations led by UN, NATO and EU.

-    Macedonian Army continues with a dynamic process of transformation up until 2016. With this process the army will gain bigger operative capabilities, better oriented command-operative system and additional prepared, trained and active reserve personnel. The restructuring of the ARM should lead to operatively prepared forces as well as forces that will contain qualitative and good trained personnel according to the NATO standards, Labenista added.

The Chief of the NATO Liaison office in Macedonia, captain Rumen Radev, in his speech focused on the current challenges that Macedonia is facing and that have the capability to undermine the process of integration of the country such as the current political crisis and the name issue.

-    The resolution of the name issue is a condition that is most important since the decisions in NATO are taken by consensus. Thus, further efforts should be made for this issue to be settled so you can obtain the deserved membership in the Alliance, Radev stated.

He stated that the doors of the NATO Liaison office are always open for the members of the Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia and all good willing people; and he added that he will make everything in his power to act upon their requirements.

Sinan Ertaj, Deputy Ambassador of Republic of Turkey to Macedonia (NATO contact embassy) expressed the support that Turkey gives to Macedonia about the country’ integration to NATO. He underlined the importance of cooperation and sustaining the policy of coexistence between the different ethnic and religious groups in Macedonia. He especially kept his attention to the necessity for cooperation between the countries in dealing with the common contemporary security treats and challenges.

He stated that Macedonia has very important role in the stability of the Balkans, but also in the wider region.
-    Turkey as a proved friend to Macedonia will continue to support Macedonia in the efforts to full membership in NATO. With achieving membership of your country in the Alliance, the Balkans security will increase, Ertaj stated.

The executive director of the business club of Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia, Mr. Trifun Kostovski focused on the business opportunities and benefits that would rise with the membership of Macedonia in NATO. He also emphasized that the membership in NATO is key for the economic development of Macedonia, the attraction of foreign investments and opening new opportunities of the business sector.

-    Macedonia and the Macedonian people deserve full membership in NATO. Entering in the Alliance will improve the business climate and will contribute to the development of the business sector. That can be seen from the examples in the countries from the former socialist bloc that entered NATO, Kostovski stated.

Through this event, the Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia once more increased the awareness of the public debate regarding the benefit of NATO membership for the Republic of Macedonia.

The event took place on 03 April, 2015 (Friday) in the Army house in Macedonia, Skopje at 10:30 hours. It was visited by more than 90 participants (high representatives from the MoD and Macedonian army, Deputy Ambassadors and military attaches, professors, partnering organizations of EACM, YATA Members and students.



Program of the event: