The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, met today with Mr. Ray Mabus, United States Secretary of the Navy.

The meeting focused on the bilateral relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the United States in the context of cooperation in the defense sector and in relation to Macedonia's membership in NATO.

President Ivanov stressed that our country remains firmly committed to promoting peace, stability and security in our region and beyond and expressed satisfaction with the cooperation in the field of defense between the Republic of Macedonia and the United States, primarily in the ISAF mission and the successful cooperation between the Macedonian Army and the National Guard of Vermont.

The Macedonian President stressed that the Republic of Macedonia has met all requirements and criteria and, by participating in peacekeeping missions, it de facto acts as a member of the North Atlantic organization. He expressed his expectation for further stronger American support for Macedonia to take its rightful membership in NATO.

"Macedonia's admission to NATO will further contribute to the stability in the Balkans and to the completion of the security framework of NATO in the region", President Ivanov said at the meeting.

Mr. Mabus expressed his gratitude for the engagement of the Macedonian troops in international peacekeeping missions so far, and added that the United States will continue to be a supporter of the strategic goal of the Republic of Macedonia to full integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures.