Montenegro is a good example of a small state that is able to integrate into a big system, such as NATO alliance. We’re glad to know that Montenegro, just like many other new Member States, cooperates with North Macedonia while offering it advice and sharing their own experience, said NATO official at the briefing dedicated to Western Balkans during the meeting of NATO Ministers that was held in Brussels.
“The main topic of the meeting was North Macedonia, which is going to become NATO Member in about a year, according to the estimates of the officials of the Alliance. Not parliaments of all NATO allies are equally fast. According to our expectations, North Macedonia could become a full NATO Member by next spring. We’ll do everything we can to speed up the ratification process. However, those are individual decisions of sovereign parliaments and it’s not up to NATO to make an impact on that process”, said the official.
Unnamed official said he was glad that many new Member states cooperated closely with Skopje.
Asked if he expected any problems regarding the ratification of the agreement on the accession of North Macedonia to NATO, he says that there are no any indicators for potential problems.
“It’s important that the state goes on with the implementation of reforms, in order to confirm that it’s ready to become part of NATO. Ratification is just a matter of time and depends on the procedures in the national parliament”, said the official.
Asked to comment on the statement of Russian ambassador to the UN, who said that membership of North Macedonia would provoke consequences, NATO source points out that relations between Macedonia and Russia will be changed.
It’s because Russia says that they disagree with NATO enlargement and it’s their right to have such attitude. It’s not up to Russia to decide which state will be part of NATO”, answered the official.
