NATO Accession Protocol with Macedonia signed

Ambassadors of 29 NATO countries signed today the Accession Protocol with Macedonia. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Dimitrov, who signed the document from the Macedonian side, took part in the ceremony, too. He’d flown in from Washington for the ceremony, held at NATO HQ. The Alliance’s Sec Gen, Jens Stoltenberg, said at the start that “this is a historic moment for the country.” According to him, Macedonian PM Zoran Zaev and his Greek counterpart, Alexis Tsipras, showed great courage in signing the Prespa Agreement, thus contributing to the region’s security and stability. “This has not been an easy road, there have been challenges and difficult compromises. We have waited for you to join our family for a long time. For years you have contributed to NATO operations and we worked on reforms which have prepared you to become the 30th member of NATO. The signing of the protocol for accession marks the start of the ratification process. I’m confident that this process will proceed smoothly and that we will soon be all able to welcome you as a full member,” Stoltenberg said. Dimitrov stated that the road walked by Macedonia had made the country more mature. “The road isn’t over, but we want to walk it together. Macedonia will implement the reforms it has promised,” the Minister stressed. Following the ceremony, numerous politicians and diplomats from Macedonia and abroad congratulated the signing of the Protocol. The first words of congratulations came from the Chief of NATO’s Office in Macedonia Zoran Jankovic, saying that the NATO Office is ready to assist Macedonia in its further processes for becoming a full-fledged NATO member. NATO Spokeswoman Oana Lungescu tweeted that this is a historic and happy day for Macedonia. EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn tweeted that Macedonia’s membership in NATO contributes to the peace and stability in the region. Via their official twitter profile, the German Foreign Ministry also congratulated the signing of the protocol, stating that “the future Republic of North Macedonia is on its way to become a NATO member. We wish them good luck and we welcome our new partners to NATO”. The US Embassy to Skopje congratulated today’s signing of NATO accession protocol with Macedonia. “Congratulations on this historic step,” reads the post on the US Embassy’s Facebook page. Albania’s President Ilir Meta also extended congratulations to Macedonian political leaders and citizens on today’s signing of the NATO Accession Protocol. “Congratulations to visionary political leaders and citizens of the Republic of Macedonia for this deserved achievement, which promotes the country’s further progress, contributes to the regional security, stability and strengthens the Alliance of the common trans-Atlantic values,” Meta says in his note. Similar words of congratulations were also addressed by Kosovo PM Ramush Haradinaj via Facebook. Slovenian Ambassador to Macedonia Milan Jazbec congratulated PM Zaev on the signing of the Protocol, saying that Slovenia will most probably ratify it on Tuesday next week. The Macedonian government also extends gratitude to media for their vital role in meeting the country’s strategic goals, as well as to all former political stakeholders who considered the country’s accession to NATO as their priority. PM Zoran Zaev, DM Radmila Sekerinska and National Coordinator for NATO Stevo Pendarovski also congratulated the citizens the signing of the Protocol. “We’re happy, and rightfully so, because we have secured lasting stability for our country. We’ve secured safety, security, and peace. Progress and development cannot be stopped now. Our contemporaries and our contemporaries’ children will live better, in a country and a region that beam with hope. Congratulations to all of us, let’s be proud,” Zaev said in his address to the nation after the signing of the Protocol. “Macedonia is no longer an isolated country, and is now the source of good news from the Balkans. From now on, besides us, the security of our citizens is also guaranteed by NATO, which will bring numerous benefits for all,” Sekerinska said. The President of Macedonia Gjorge Ivanov also congratulated the signing of the Protocol. “Unfortunately, this event was preceded by Macedonia changing its constitutional name, which permanently damaged the national interests of Macedonia,” writes the announcement from Ivanov’s office. VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski says that Macedonia paid a too high price for this. “We welcome every success of Macedonia, even though PM Zaev did this in a rather undignified way, by trading the national interests for protection of the Macedonian identity that previous generations lost their lives for,” Mickoski says. Congratulations also came from DUI and other minor parties in the ruling alliance.