2 Oct 2003

North Atlantic Council visits former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 1 News 01/10/03 - NATO North Atlantic Council to visit former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1) Background The North Atlantic Council NATO's role in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1) Multimedia High resolution photos NATO’s top decision makers visited the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia1 on 2 October as a sign of the Alliance’s continuing commitment to peace and stability in the country and region. The North Atlantic Council is NATO’s top decision-making body. It comprises the permanent representatives of the 19 NATO member countries and is chaired by the Secretary General. Continuing NATO commitment During the visit the Council met with the country’s leaders and representatives of political parties and international organisations, including the European Union and the OSCE. In these meetings, the Ambassador’s repeated the call for full implementation of the Ohrid agreement and condemned all forms of extremism, ethnic hatred and intolerance. They also reiterated NATO’s commitment to peace and stability in the country. Secretary General Lord Robertson also visited a school and met with residents in the village of Tearce, which saw some of the heaviest fighting in 2001. In March this year NATO handed over its peacekeeping mission in the country to the European Union. The Alliance continues however to maintain civilian and military representatives on the ground and is working closely with Macedonian authorities through NATO's partnership programme.   Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.