Stoltenberg

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has taken a big step toward joining NATO after allies signed a key document that could see the tiny Balkans country become the 30th member of the world's biggest military alliance over the next year.

Foreign ministers of NATO member states and of Macedonia on Wednesday, meeting at the alliance's Brussels headquarters, signed the protocol on the country's accession, marking a major step on the path to full membership.

The final step to approve the name change of FYROM to "North Macedonia" is expected to be taken this week with the country's NATO accession protocol to come to Greece's Parliament on Tuesday and to be voted on a few days after that.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has tweeted that the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, soon to be renamed North Macedonia, will sign its accession protocol to NATO on Wednesday, Feb. 6..

 

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is welcoming the Greek parliament's ratification of the Prespes agreement, which paves the way for Skopje to join the world's biggest military alliance.

Stoltenberg said in a tweet Friday that the vote is "an important contribution to the stability and prosperity of the whole region."

Minister of National Defense Gabriel Les emphasized, during a meeting in Brussels this Wednesday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the need to strengthen NATO's posture at the Black Sea by establishing a strong allied land presence in Romania, tasked with deterring and defending the allied territory, a strengthened naval dimension, and by improving air policing activities.

Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg confirmed his attendance to the informal meeting of defence ministers of the EU member states, which is schedule to take place in Bucharest on 30 and 31 January, National Defence Gabriel Les told AGERPRES on Thursday.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has congratulated Prime Minister Zoran Zaev of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on the successful completion of the revision of the Balkan country's constitution in line with the so-called Prespes accord signed with Greece in June.

The ratification of the so-called Prespes name agreement between Athens and Skopje is a precondition for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to join NATO, the alliance's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday at a summit of foreign ministers in Brussels. 

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this in Brussels on Monday.

Stoltenberg spoke ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers on Wednesday, when "Western Balkan countries' relations with NATO" will also be considered together with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.