Remarks
by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the joint press point with the Prime Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia¹, Nikola Gruevski
Prime Minister, it is a great pleasure to meet you again, so soon after your visit to NATO Headquarters.
The fact that you came to NATO so recently, and my visit here, both show the importance we attach to our relationship.
We have discussed our excellent cooperation. We highly value your strong contribution to ISAF and your support for KFOR. You are a valuable contributor to international security.
NATO is committed to the future of the Western Balkans as a natural part of the Euro-Atlantic family.
Your security matters to us. Your stability matters to us. And your future matters to us.
You are not just close to us geographically. You are close to us historically and culturally as well. So I believe you belong in our family of nations, and I look forward to seeing you join the family in due time.
Integration into NATO is a free choice, but it requires continued reforms. Tough decisions. And courageous leadership.
NATO’s door is open. As we agreed at the Bucharest NATO Summit in 2008, you will receive an invitation to NATO once a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue is found.
So I urge you to continue your efforts, to strive for a solution. The time is now. So I call on all political leaders to promote inclusive democratic dialogue. This the best guarantee of a stable and prosperous future.
- Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.