The Sun too, is a star. Macedonia in NATO 2008 Macedonia in EU 2012 It is in the best interest of Europe and the Westernized World to do everything possible so as to insure security, peace, vigorous economic growth, and continued progress toward democratization of Macedonia, with the goal of ensuring a more stable Balkan region. The United Macedonian Diaspora encourages the European Union to provide full assistance to Macedonia in its stabilization efforts towards becoming a Member State; essentially, to do in Macedonia and the Balkans what the Western European countries did in the 1970s to stabilize Spain and Portugal. In cooperating with North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Macedonia played a key role in preventing the spread of the Kosovo crisis. Macedonia, as a long-time member of the NATO’s “Partnership for Peace” program has had on-going cooperative training exercises with the United States military and in the spirit of defense cooperation has been active in sending military units to Afghanistan and Iraq. Macedonia also participates in NATO’s South East Europe Initiative. We support the on-going efforts for Macedonian admission into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Macedonia in NATO 2008 Campaign The United States of America is strongly supportive of the Republic of Macedonia’s NATO membership. Macedonia is meeting all NATO membership requirements and is ready to be invited to join NATO at the Bucharest Summit in April 2008. Macedonia’s NATO membership will promote peace and stability in the Balkans as Kosovo’s recent independence continues to reverberate throughout the region. Macedonia’s armed forces maintain the professionalism and readiness required of NATO member states; Macedonia’s military is a professional all-volunteer force equipped with the latest military technology that meets or exceeds NATO standards and her forces are ready for rapid deployment. Macedonia has quickly emerged from the failed communist country of Yugoslavia and risen to become an independent democratic nation-state on the verge of NATO membership. Macedonia is also a candidate for EU membership. According to U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia, Gillian Milovanovic, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Kurt D. Volker, Macedonia is now a net “exporter of security” around the world. Macedonia demonstrated its commitment to NATO when it served as the key staging area for NATO’s intervention in Kosovo and provided refuge to 360,000 Kosovars. Despite not yet being a member of the Alliance, Macedonia participates in NATO operations in Bosnia and Afghanistan. Macedonia also recently assumed command of NATO’s former host nation support coordination center that provides logistical support for KFOR forces in Kosovo, and Macedonia is currently participating in combat operations alongside American forces in Iraq. Upon NATO accession, Macedonia will be ready to quickly deploy troops as part of NATO operations without prior parliamentary approval. Macedonia’s defense budget accounts for 2.3% of the nation’s gross domestic product -- well above the NATO benchmark for defense expenditures which only seven (7) current members of the entire Alliance meet at this time.
Over 90% of the Macedonian people favor NATO membership. Through its actions, efforts, and contributions, Macedonia has earned its place within NATO.
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Together with our international partners, we are supporting the Government of Macedonia’s defense reforms, efforts to strengthen rule of law and judicial institutions, and plans to boost economic growth and development. We share Macedonia’s aspirations and values and we hope to see Macedonia, with its fellow A-3 members, become the strongest possible candidates for NATO membership invitations in 2008 in Bucharest.