Macedonia adopts NATO declaration

SKOPJE -- Macedonian parliament on Tuesday unanimously voted in favor of a “declaration for seeking support for NATO membership."

The declaration will be sent to the U.S. and parliaments of all NATO member countries, BIRN reports from Skopje.

In his opening speech, the independent deputy Gjorgji Orovcanec, who tabled the motion, said he proposed the declaration because the period was approaching when a final decision on Macedonia’s membership would be made.

“Now is the time to… confirm to all NATO countries that we all stand behind Macedonian membership”, Orovcanec said.

The deputy said that the declaration should point out that NATO’s enlargement towards the Western Balkans “will create firm regional geopolitical conditions for the effective and peaceful solution of Kosovo’s status and for lasting peace in the Balkans.”

In all, 90 present of the deputies in the 120-seat parliament voted in favor of the motion. During the debate both opposition and government parties expressed their support.