28-30 Sep 2001

Security conference in Skopje A high-level conference on "Macedonia on the way to NATO" took place in the capital of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1) from 28 to 30 September. Speakers included the Minister of Defence Vlado Buchkovski, the Spokesman of the OSCE Mission in Skopje Harald Schenker and NATO officials. They discussed different aspects of the country's security concerns, including the impact of the current situation on stability in the Balkans as a whole, the role of regional security organisations in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1), in particular that of NATO, and the country's possible integration into European institutions. The conference was attended by representatives from non-governmental organisations and NATO, young political leaders, parliamentarians and journalists. It was organised by the Euro-Atlantic Youth Forum and was co-sponsored by NATO. Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.