Monday, 30 November 2009
Meeting of the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Trajko Veljanoski, with the Minister for International Defence and Security of the United Kingdom, the Right Honourable Baroness Ann Taylor
The President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Trajko Veljanoski received the Minister for International Defence and Security of the United Kingdom, the Rt Hon Baroness Ann Taylor.
During the discussion, the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia underlined the excellent relations between the two countries and expressed appreciation for the continuous support provided by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland regarding our strategic goal - the Euro-Atlantic Integration.
„The Republic of Macedonia is devoted to NATO Membership, not only in the framework of collective security, but primarily because of the fact that peace is an undividable category that we would like to accomplish responsibly, as well as to contribute to achieving sustainable peace with our participation in the peace missions around the world. The NATO Mission in Afghanistan is one of these missions, and we have deployed 174 members of the Macedonian Army to the ISAF Mission” said President Veljanoski.
„I would like to point out that despite the fact that Macedonia did not get the invitation for NATO Membership in Bucharest because of the absurd dispute over the name issue with our southern neighbour although we fulfilled all the conditions, the Republic of Macedonia continues to participate actively in the peace missions of the Alliance, but also in the other international organizations, which again shows our responsibility regarding world peace. I hope that now, when we rightfully expect to receive the date for opening the accession negotiations with the EU, there will be no repeating of the Bucharest scenario” added President Veljanoski.
The President of the Assembly, Mr. Veljanoski, emphasised the role of the Assembly in the civil, i.e. parliamentary control over the army, which is one of the principles of parliamentary democracy.
The Minister for International Defence and Security of the United Kingdom, the Rt Hon Baroness Ann Taylor, underlined that the Republic of Macedonia has asserted itself as a country which gives a significant contribution to the peace missions, and this contribution is recognised and acknowledged by the allies.
The Rt Hon Baroness Ann Taylor also said that the Republic of Macedonia significantly contributes to the stability of the Region, and added that she hoped that soon the country will be full Member of NATO. Also, the United Kingdom fully supports the Republic of Macedonia on its path towards the EU, and in this framework it supports the Macedonian efforts for receiving the date for opening the accession negotiations”