President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova addressed the celebration of the 5th anniversary of NATO accession, which was held at the Ilinden barracks in Skopje today.
She pointed out that we are marking the fifth anniversary of NATO membership in the shadow of the great tragedy in Kocani, which has reminded us in a terrible way that the safety of citizens is one of the basic tasks of the state.
The successful battle for the lives of those injured in the terrible tragedy, according to the President, would not have been possible without the impressive humanity and solidarity of the states, peoples and citizens of the region, but also much more broadly, as well as the activated European civil protection system, but also NATO, for which we are immensely grateful.
She recalled that since the first years of our independence and self-determination, the Macedonian membership in NATO was recognized as a top strategic goal, along with the membership in the European Union.
According to the President, it is a fact that enormous efforts were invested and great sacrifices and painful compromises were made to achieve this strategic goal, which were not required of any other candidate country.
She said that the most difficult part of the road to NATO was walked by the military and civilian members of the Army, who through laborious reforms, continuous military exercises and risky peacekeeping missions gained invaluable experience, but also great, well-deserved respect from the Allies.
As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am proud of our Army, as an important and proven actor in NATO, said the President.
She said that as a state we must invest in the Macedonian defense and security and that we will continue to contribute to peace through participation in peacekeeping missions led by NATO and the United Nations.
She expressed confidence that despite certain misunderstandings, transatlantic cooperation, based on international rules and principles, will continue to be the foundation and guarantee of European and Euro-Atlantic security and stability, and indicated that we will continue to move and act in a common direction.
The full text of President Siljanovska-Davkova’s address is provided below.
Respected Members of the Army,
Distinguished President of the Assembly, Mr. Afrim Gashi,
Distinguished Prime Minister, Mr. Hristijan Mickoski,
Distinguished Minister of Defense, Mr. Vlado Misajlovski,
Respected Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Mr. Sasko Lafchiski,
Respected Commander of the NATO Joint Force Command in Naples, Admiral Stuart Munsch,
Esteemed Excellencies,
We are marking the fifth anniversary of our NATO membership in the shadow of the huge tragedy in Kocani, which has reminded us in a terrible way that the safety of citizens is one of the fundamental goals of the state.
Still, the successful battle for the lives of those injured in the terrible tragedy would not have been possible without the impressive humanity and solidarity of the states, nations and citizens of the region and even beyond, as well as the activated European civil protection system, for which we are immensely grateful.
Seven days until April 4th, the date when the North Atlantic Treaty was signed in Washington in 1949, establishing NATO. With the Treaty, the signatory countries committed themselves to protecting the achievements of civilization, democracy, individual freedom and the rule of law through collective defense, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. In other words, the purpose of the existence of the Alliance is the peace and security of its member states.
Over the decades, NATO has grown into a pillar of the North Atlantic and European security order as a prerequisite for peace and growth.
Since the first years of our independence, an extra-party consensus has been built among the Macedonian citizens on the need for integration into NATO, as a condition for creating an environment of peace, stability and prosperity for the generations to come. The Macedonian membership in NATO was recognized as a top strategic goal, along with the membership into the European Union. Some of the veterans of the Macedonian defense who dedicated their careers to achieving this goal are here, among us.
Yet, it is a fact that in order to achieve this strategic goal, enormous efforts were invested and great sacrifices and painful compromises were made, which were not required of any other candidate country.
The most difficult part of the road to NATO was, of course, paved by the military and civilian members of the Army themselves, who, through laborious reforms, continuous military exercises and risky peacekeeping missions, gained invaluable experience, but also great respect from the allies. This is evidenced by the numerous recognitions for the expertise, competence and sacrifice of the members of the Army by our strategic partners and NATO senior representatives. It is no coincidence that, as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, I am proud of our Army, as our important actor in NATO.
Esteemed Attendees,
Every contribution is important, especially in this time of great uncertainty and instability, when the North Atlantic Alliance is faced with global security risks and regional military conflicts, with traditional, but also with new, hybrid and cyber threats from state and non-state actors. Artificial intelligence brings additional unpredictability. The order established after the World War II is undergoing a major transformation. Instead of multilateralism, we face multi-polarization. The war in Ukraine has caused unprecedented human suffering and material damage and threatens the vision of a Europe united in peace. The conflicts in the Middle East are generating new human suffering and new migration waves.
The crisis requires a rapid and appropriate response. I am certainly not keen on wars. In these turbulent times dominated by belligerent Mars, I wish for a new era guided by peace-loving Venus. But, although I often call, like Hemingway, for a farewell to weapons, I am aware that we are perhaps in the most critical geopolitical period since the Cold War. Security threats impose the need for greater investments in defense, including in advanced technologies and weapons.
Therefore, as a state, we must invest in the Macedonian defense and security. We will continue to contribute to peace through participation in peacekeeping missions led by NATO and the United Nations.
We will align ourselves with NATO standards and the Common Security and Defense Policy of the European Union.
Our investment in the Alliance is simultaneously an investment in the Army, in the bulwark of the territorial integrity and independence of our Republic.
Respected Guests,
This anniversary is a reminder not only of the path we have walked along to membership and beyond, but also of the fundamental idea of the Alliance – to provide peace and security to the member states and their peoples, based on a dialogue among the free in spirit – Animus in consulendo liber.
I believe that, despite certain misunderstandings, the transatlantic cooperation based on international rules and principles, will continue to be the foundation and guarantee of the European and Euro-Atlantic security and stability. We, in turn, will continue to walk and act in the common direction.
Thank you.
