4 June 2002

Reinforcing cooperation with Skopje A team from NATO HQ travelled to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1) on 4-7 June to look into ways of enhancing the country's cooperation with the Alliance in the context of the Partnership for Peace. They met with representatives of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior to examine a series of problems, including unexploded conventional and potential chemical munitions. In addition, ammunition management and the destruction of anti-personnel mine stockpiles were also discussed. The purpose of these preliminary meetings was to establish the extent to which the authorities in Skopje might require assistance. In the affirmative, they would discuss what recommendations should be made to NATO and Partner countries in order to define and help resolve problems in this field. Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.