NATO heads of state gather meet tomorrow and Monday, the alliance's longstanding open-door policy, which guarantees membership to all European democracies, will be tested by the pending membership of the Republic of Macedonia.

For decades, NATO membership promised peace and security for the nations that emerged from behind the Iron Curtain. But even as Macedonia's soldiers do hard duty in Afghanistan guarding the gates of NATO's Kabul headquarters, our nation waits on the alliance's doorstep for the fulfillment of that promise.

Macedonia has demonstrated its commitment to trans-Atlantic security interests time and again. Even now, as the mission in Afghanistan strains NATO's forces, our parliament unanimously approved each of NATO's requests for additional troops. While other nations pulled out, Macedonians dug in.

Our message is simple: We will continue to stand by American and NATO troops, without caveats, for as long as we are needed.

As one of the largest-per-capita troop contributors in Afghanistan, Macedonia is heavily invested in the outcome of the debate over that nation. That said, we would much prefer to participate in this conversation as a NATO member rather than observe it as a spectator. And as a nation with boots on the ground yet no voice in the mission, the Republic of Macedonia believes NATO enlargement has a rightful place on the Chicago summit's agenda as well.

In theory, the path to NATO membership is clear: Any European democracy that meets the qualifications for membership -- such as strengthening the rule of law, ensuring media freedom, fighting corruption and holding free and fair elections -- will be invited to join the alliance. Yet for the Republic of Macedonia, this path has been full of unexpected twists, turns and obstacles.

At NATO's Bucharest Summit in 2008, alliance members unanimously agreed that Macedonia met every condition of membership. But despite that consensus, Macedonia's entry into NATO was vetoed by Greece, due to a longstanding dispute over our country's name. For this reason, and this reason only, the Republic of Macedonia remains on NATO's doorstep.
 

Our legal standing has been confirmed by the International Court of Justice's recent ruling that Greece's 2008 action violated international law. And our nation has been heartened by steps taken by the U.S. Congress -- namely, the introduction of the NATO Enhancement Act of 2012, and a call by 54 members of Congress for President Barack Obama to support NATO membership for Macedonia in Chicago. In other NATO capitals as well, there is a growing consensus that Macedonia should not be needlessly obstructed from joining the alliance.
 

Macedonia could take its deserved position in NATO if Greece simply abides by the 1995 Interim Accord between our countries, reached with support from the U.S. government and facilitated by the late Richard Holbrooke, where Greece agreed not to obstruct Macedonia's membership in international organizations provided that we apply using a provisional name.
 

Macedonia remains strongly committed to finding a lasting, mutually acceptable solution to the name dispute, and we will continue to work toward an agreement that both preserves our national identity and dignity, and addresses Greece's interests. But the status quo surrounding our application for NATO membership is unsustainable for our nation, region and the alliance.
 

It is unsustainable for the U.S. as well. The Republic of Macedonia is half a world away, but our situation directly affects U.S. national security interests. For more than two decades, the United States has invested heavily in the stability of southeastern Europe. Congress and successive administrations have repeatedly recognized the importance of NATO enlargement by supporting entry at the earliest possible date for all democratic European countries that satisfy the relevant criteria.
 

Yet in practice, the earliest possible date for Macedonia's entry has been -- since 2008 -- subject to the interpretation of just one other nation. This impasse has effectively shut NATO's open door to us and, in the long term, undermines hard-won stability in southeastern Europe.
 

Macedonia, along with other Balkan nations, is ready, willing and able to do its fair share to help keep Europe safe. We hope that the NATO leaders meeting in Chicago will provide at the very least a clear path to our membership. All aspirant nations -- and all member nations -- will lose if NATO chooses instead to keep its door closed.
 

--Gjorge Ivanov, President of the Republic of Macedonia
 

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