Tribune Excerpts
The following article appeared in the November 2006 Edition of the Macedonian Tribune
Senate considers bill to enlarge NATO
NATO Freedom Consolidation Act of 2006, which will open the door for the Republic of Macedonia to become a NATO member and authorize $3.6 million on a grant basis to Macedonia, was introduced in the US Senate on Sept. 29.
Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and sponsored the bill along with Senators Joseph Biden of Delaware, Bill Frist of Tennessee, John McCain of Arizona and Gordon Smith of Oregon.
The MPO has long believed in and worked for Macedonia’s integration into the NATO alliance. In 1994, Macedonia became a member of the Partnership for Peace program, a precursor to NATO membership.
During the past 15 years, MPO leaders have met with members of Congress and sent resolutions to world leaders underlining the importance of NATO membership to Macedonia. The MPO has long believed that NATO membership is essential for peace and security in the region and will ensure Macedonia’s territorial integrity.
In late August, French President Jacques Chirac warned that NATO’s enlargement could only distort its vocation of guaranteeing the collective security of the European and North American allies. France also is opposed to the deployment of NATO troops in Iraq and Lebanon. Macedonian soldiers have served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia.
US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told a meeting of countries within the South East Europe Defense Cooperation that the US strongly supports NATO enlargement, but the decision depends on the 26 Alliance members, as well as the aspirant countries and their reforms. The group met in September in Tirana, Albania.
“I expect Macedonia will be invited to join NATO in 2008,” US Ambassador to Macedonia Gillian Milovanovic said in August, adding that Macedonia must continue to work on economic development, to fight against corruption and to improve interethnic relations.
Nikola Gruevski, Macedonia’s new Prime Minister, listed his government’s top priorities as integration into NATO and the EU as well as improved living standards, increased employment, development of democracy, improved interethnic relations and political stability. In mid-October, he visited Germany to seek German support for NATO and EU membership.
In September, Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki discussed the issue with Daniel Freed, State Department representative to the meeting of Adriatic Charter counterparts in New York.
