Defence Minister Radmila Sekerinska met Wednesday with James Appathurai, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, who is visiting Macedonia within the process of the country’s accession talks to the Alliance. Appathurai congratulated Macedonia on its leadership in the region, saying the country has made an enormous turnaround in a short period, with its good-neighbourly policy stimulating regional countries to give strong support its Alliance accession. Apparthurai offered NATO’s support and assistance regarding the budget spending issue and expressed gratitude for Macedonia’s continual contribution to the Alliance’s peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan, reads the press release.