FYROM accession protocol signed at NATO HQ

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov on Wednesday signed an accession protocol at the alliance's Brussels headquarters, bringing the Balkan nation one step closer to joining NATO.

"This is a historic occasion," Stoltenberg said, adding that FYROM's accession would bring "more stability to the Western Balkans," and, "We have waited for you to join our family for a long time." The NATO chief also said he was "really impressed by the political courage, by the political will, [and] by the commitment of both the government in Athens and the government in Skopje."

Dimitrov, for his part hailed a "historic day," adding that the outcome was "the result of the work of many generations." NATO membership would secure "peace and stability" for his country, he said.

The signing...