[ NATO SPEECHES ]

Acceptance
Ceremony
for the
Individual
Partnership
Programme
between the
Republic of
Macedonia
and NATO for
1996-1998

12th June 1996


Address

By HE Dr. Ljubomir Frchkoski,
Minister for Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Macedonia

Mr. Chairman,
Mr. Secretary General,
Permanent Representatives,

First of all, allow me to express my great pleasure and gratitude to the North Atlantic Council, for such a solemn marking of the approval of the Individual Partnership Program of the Republic of Macedonia within the Partnership for Peace Program.

The Republic of Macedonia is firmly committed to peaceful, foreign policy and active participation in building collective security.

As you know, my country is situated in the rather sensitive region of Southeastern Europe in one part of which during the past period, tragic military conflicts occurred and took a hugh number of human lives and caused major material damage. However, The Republic of Macedonia with its resolute peaceful policy and with the development of democracy and interethnic tolerance, managed to overcome open problems and challenges to which it was exposed despite the huge consequences upon its own social life and economy.

We are the only sovereign state, established after the dissolution of The Former Yugoslav Federation that acquired its independence without military conflicts and in a peaceful manner by negotiations. I believe that since 1991 until today, we have provided relevant evidence for our role in the Region and wider as a factor of stability and peace.

The development of a good neighbourly relations has been one of the highest priorities of my country's foreign policy since the very beginning. Despite the complexity of our surroundings, respecting the principles of equality. Independence, territorial integrity, non- interference in internal affairs of other countries, peaceful resolution of disputes, I believe that we succeeded in establishing good relations with all our neighbours.

Also, in the multilateral field, The Republic of Macedonia, within the frames of its objective position, promotes and encourage good neighbourly relations in order to strengthen stability and cooperation in the region. On my country's proposal, at the 48th and 50th General Assembly of the UN, the resolutions for development of good neighbourly relations in the Balkans were adopted by consensus.


Prior to becoming a UN member state, the president of the republic, on the basis of our parliaments decision, raised the initiative for presence of a peacekeeping mission in the Republic of Macedonia. This first preventive mission in the UN history, known as UNDREDEP, since 1992, until today. In extraordinary good cooperation with all the factors in my country, successfully accomplishes its mandate and is evaluated by the international community as a significant factor of stability in this region.

Committed to collective security and full membership in NATO, and as a sign of confidence in the role of NATO in the security structures in the Euro-Atlantic Area, in 1993 the Macedonian Parliament reached a decision that the Republic of Macedonia should join the Alliance for this decision. In the Republic of Macedonia there is a full political and wider social consensus of all social factors.

Therefore, as soon it was objectively possible at the end of last year, the Republic of Macedonia joined the Partnership for Peace program and became a member of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

I believe you share my pleasure with the dynamics of our involvement in the North Atlantic Cooperation Council and Partnership for Peace activities. We consider them a fundamental framework of the development of wide relations and cooperation with all partner countries. Today, with the approval of the Individual Partnership Program, we make another significant step towards more substantial cooperation, moving towards our final goal, a full membership of the Republic of Macedonia in the Alliance.

Taking into consideration this permanent priority of our foreign policy, the Republic of Macedonia expressed its respect for all relevant NATO documents particularly those from 1994 and submitted all the appropriate documents as a proof of our commitment to sincere partnership and cooperation with the Alliance.

We consider the 1996-98 individual program an important obligation, through practical cooperation to increase the capacities of the Republic of Macedonia for making a larger contribution to the promotion of conditions for maintenance of peace, democracy, human rights, democratic control of armed forces, peacekeeping and humanitarian missions, as well as the extremely important increase of the interoperability and standardization for joint activities in the security area.

We are prepared to carry out all obligations and responsibilities and I am convinced that during the implementation and periodic reviewing, we will implement this program successfully.

It is my pleasure to point out that during the last few days, two significant agreements, here in Brussels and in Skopje, were concluded regarding the status of the forces of NATO countries and the Republic of Macedonia, which are to participate in joint exercises and activities being a significant step towards promotion of the agreed bases for successful cooperation.


Our future activities on the intensified dialogue with the Alliance and joining the planning and review process are being considered and prepared.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our determination for participation in the new European Security architecture building which will secure the peace, stability and democracy-based development is definite.

The Republic of Macedonia supports the NATO enlargement as the only collective security system so far and considers it a contribution to confidence and security building which will prevent creation of new "dividing lines" and "spheres of influence" in Europe. It is a sovereign right to every country to join the Alliance as long as it is its interest. NATO is free to decide by itself to whom and when it will offer membership in that respect and based on those principles, the Republic of Macedonia, is determined for future full NATO membership.

Considering the geostrategic position and the overall development in Southeastern Europe, we believe that Macedonia and Albania could and should become priority candidates in NATO enlargement in order to strengthen peace and stability in this sensitive region and at the same time not to cause major negative reactions.

Distinguished Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished Mr. Secretary General,
Permanent Representatives,

At the end, allow me to thank you for the opportunity to address in this highest body of the Alliance and to declare solemnly that the Republic of Macedonia accepts the Individual Partnership Program along with the obligation to work actively on its implementation.

Thank you.


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