TIRANA – The NATO door to North Macedonia has opened after the ratification of the relevant accession protocol by Spain which was the last of alliance’s 30 member states to do so a step paving the way for the former Yugoslav republic to formally join the alliance.
Skopje’s Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov announced in a news conference on Tuesday as quoted by DPA news agency that the Spanish Senate ratified the protocol unanimously in a videoconference because of the coronavirus pandemic. Dimitrov thanked Spain for taking the step under “such difficult circumstances.”
North Macedonia’s NATO accession became possible last year when this WB country ended a long-standing row with neighboring Greece by adding the geographic qualifier “North” to its name.
Greece had been accusing the northern neighbor of an attempt to usurp the legacy and even the territory of its ancient province of Macedonia and has vetoed its accession to NATO and closer ties with the European Union because of it.
“With this, we are completing an effort of three decades,” Dimitrov said.
Albanian President Ilir Meta called this event on Tuesday a ‘joyful news’ for all as the accession of North Macedonia in NATO serves the strengthening of the security, stability and peace not only in the region.
“Albania has been among the first countries which has adopted this protocol and has always supported unwaveringly your path towards NATO,” said Mr. Meta in a message addressed to his counterpart Stevo Pendarovski.
“I express the conviction that Albania and North Macedonia as two neighboring countries having common European and Euro-Atlantic visions will strengthen even more the cooperation and contribution to the benefit of the further consolidation of collective security,” said Albanian President in his message to Mr. Panderovski.
After the signature of the King, Spain will formally become the final NATO member to ratify the Accession Protocol, which will then be submitted to US State Department, ending the 30-year membership process of the country. Parliament of North Macedonia ratified the Accession Protocol in February./argumentum.al
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