NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation General Philippe Lavigne and Chief of Army Staff, Major General Vasko Gjurchinovski signed on Tuesday a joint declaration officially concluding the process of North Macedonia’s military integration in the Alliance.
President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Stevo Pendarovski and Defense Minister Radmila Shekerinska also attended the signing ceremony at the presidential residence.
President Pendarovski said North Macedonia’s path to full-fledged NATO membership hasn’t been easy, but activating the NATO membership invitation has brought the country greater international visibility and diplomatic potential to realize strategic political and economic interests.
General Philippe Lavigne expressed congratulations on the swift and successful completion of the country’s military integration in the Alliance, underlining that North Macedonia can count on the solidarity and support of the NATO allies.
“NATO enlargement proved to be an efficient mechanism for maintaining long-term stability and security. Today we extend gratitude to North Macedonia for contributing to stability in South East Europe and NATO. The signing of the joint declaration is not only major success for North Macedonia’s armed forces, but reaffirms the strengthening of North Macedonia as a credible and important partner of the Alliance,” said Lavigne.
Defense Minister Radmila Shekerinska said today the country has reached the end of a thousand miles long road, on which it embarked 30 years ago, adding that now we’re taking a new road for full modernization of the Army.
