The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, addressed at the opening of the Conference of US-Adriatic Charter Defense Ministers – “Common Challenges and Joint Solutions”.

Dear attendees, Distinguished Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my honor and privilege to greet you in the Republic of Macedonia, the year that we are marking two decades of existence of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia. An army which met the NATO membership criteria. An army participating, shoulder to shoulder, with the Alliance in peace missions.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Nine years ago, Macedonia, Albania, Croatia and the United States of America signed the Adriatic Charter. A Charter of partnership founded on the “shared vision of a peaceful southeast Europe, fully integrated into the Euro-Atlantic community, devoted to democracy, the rule of law and the respect of human rights and basic freedoms".

Nine years later, Albania and Croatia are full-fledged members of NATO, and the Adriatic partnership expended with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. We are happy with the success of Albania and Croatia, which we feel as our own success and the success of the entire region.

In the past period, the partnership with the United States of America incited our countries to dedicate themselves to fostering good neighborly relations and regional cooperation. We were inspired to accelerate and strengthen the democratic and market reforms in our countries, and therewith the security, progress and stability of the region.

This had and still has a common objective. Full-fledged integration of our countries in the EU and Euro-Atlantic political, economic, security and defense institutions. An objective which has been sealed not only by the signatures on the documents, but also with the active participation in the ISAF peace mission in Afghanistan.

Distinguished Excellencies,
Today’s conference is dedicated to the “Common Challenges and Joint Solutions”. The challenges become more numerous and versatile: the global economic crisis and its implications on the regional security and development, the energy security, and not to forget the possibilities of applying NATO’s Smart Defense Concept.

No matter the consequences, I believe that the joint solutions do not infer only to the shared values, assignments and responsibilities. They also enclose the shared rights and privileges derived from the desired, and most of all, deserved NATO membership.

This conference is the true place, in the period prior to the forthcoming Chicago NATO Summit, to remember, among other, what instigated the Adriatic Charter. The preamble of the Charter reads that the partnership results from the opportunity to complete a “whole new Europe where every state, every ethnic group, every citizen and every religion will enjoy safety and respect". 

We are interested in becoming a part of the builders of the new Europe. We want to be partners and allies with all our neighbors, and together building the present and the future of our region. Unfortunately, as it has been substantiated many times in the past, formally, although not essentially, our desire has been impeded by an absurd and imposed dispute, which accordingly inflicts blackmail and ultimatum.

We are not content, but we are not discouraged either. Discontent does not imply abandoning the partnership and visions. On the contrary, we are even more encouraged and strongly focused on our part of the obligations. Our proper responsible behavior was only reaffirmed by the ruling of the International Court of Justice. This ruling offered a new, legal dimension and requires a new approach by all NATO member countries. An approach which means respecting the ruling and the international law. An approach which signifies that the NATO member countries should reconsider their positions concerning Macedonia's membership to NATO. Respecting the ruling of the international law, and ultimately, respecting the Interim Agreement, entails a reconsideration of the conclusion from Bucharest in Chicago. Therefore, we hope that our neighbor, in the spirit of the shared values with the Alliance member countries, shall respect the agreed, i.e. the responsibilities from the Interim Agreement.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Respecting the agreements and the international law are the guarantee behind a safer and more prosperous world. It is only in this way that we will contribute to building the greatest peace project – Europe whole, free and secure.

Thank you.