President Stevo Pendarovski received today the Commander of the Allied Command of the NATO Joint Forces in Naples, Admiral Robert Burke, who is paying a working visit to the country on the occasion of the first anniversary of the Republic of North Macedonia’s membership in NATO and the closure of the NATO Liaison Office.
The meeting expressed satisfaction with the exceptionally high level of relations between the Republic of North Macedonia and the Alliance and exchanged views and information on the cooperation of the Republic of North Macedonia with the Allied Command of the NATO Joint Forces in Naples.
President Pendarovski welcomed the support given by the Allied Command of the NATO Joint Forces in Naples for the successful completion of the process of our military integration into the Alliance.
“Maintaining the security, stability and prosperity of our region is in collective interest of all. The Republic of North Macedonia is ready to continue with the defense reforms and modernization of the Army in accordance with all NATO standards, which at the same time enable the country to project and protect its vital national interests and strengthen its geopolitical and geostrategic position”, President Pendarovski said at the meeting, adding that our country continuously shows that it is a reliable and strategic partner and ally of the Alliance.
In this regard, the President stressed that the Republic of North Macedonia will continue to actively participate in the KFOR mission in the Republic of Kosovo, which is under the direct command of Naples, and to provide logistical and medical support to the Alliance, i.e. NATO-led operation in Kosovo, with increased number of Macedonian members, as projected.
The interlocutors discussed the opportunities for deepening regional cooperation and participation in regional NATO initiatives and partnerships, which would strengthen stability in the region and will allow us to share our experience as a new NATO member. In that regard, the possibilities for expanding the participation of the Republic of North Macedonia in the international peacekeeping missions led by the Alliance were considered.
The NATO Joint Forces Command in Naples (JFCNP) is one of the most important commands in the NATO military structure that aims to prepare, plan and conduct military operations to preserve the peace, security and territorial integrity of the Alliance member states.
