Ekaterina Zakharieva welcomes ratification of North Macedonia NATO accession protocol
20 February 2019 News.jpeg)
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zakharieva introduced in Parliament a Bill on the Ratification of the Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of the Republic of North Macedonia, and after that bill was voted into law, spoke with Talat Xhaferi, the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Northern Macedonia. ‘This is a historic moment for the NATO enlargement,’ Minister Zakharieva told the MPs in her remarks. She went on to state that in 2019, when the Alliance turns 70, the Republic of North Macedonia will become its 30th member state. ‘The Republic of Bulgaria is a consistent supporter of the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of the countries in the Western Balkans. This was demonstrated beyond any doubt during the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU,’ the Deputy Prime Minister underscored.
She recalled that from the very moment of its accession to NATO, Bulgaria had undertaken a clear commitment to work for promoting the process of Euro-Atlantic integration of the countries aspiring for membership. ‘It is in our best national interest to have our south-western neighbor in the zone of shared democratic values, so that she could assume its share of the responsibilities and obligations arising from its NATO membership and contribute to the Euro-Atlantic security,’ added the Minister before the Parliament passed the bill with 140 votes in favor and not a single one against or abstention.
In her meeting with Xhaferi, who was also observing the vote, Minister Zakharieva said that today was an exciting day for everyone and expressed her hope that the remaining NATO member states would ratify the protocol as soon as possible, in order for the Republic of North Macedonia to become a full member of the Alliance by the end of the year.
The Deputy Prime Minister reminded her guest that the accession to NATO is the first step, but the Republic of Bulgaria would also support the Republic of North Macedonia in attaining her goal of starting, this coming June, negotiations for EU membership. Bulgaria will remain in the future your strongest voice in the EU, but you should get your own job done more than 100 percent,’ Ekaterina Zakharieva stressed. She said she expected the parliament in Skopje to enact laws on judicial reform, the fight against corruption, an administrative reform and on upholding the rule of law.
The Minister also expressed confidence that the two countries would continue to adhere in the future to the letter and spirit of the Treaty on Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation they signed in 2017. ‘Because when a friendship is not built on a solid foundation, even the slightest wind can shake it,’ the Minister stressed. ‘Whereas we want future politicians to be sure that even the fiercest storm cannot break our friendship.’
Talat Xhaferi thanked the Bulgarian government for its support, Minister Zakharieva for her persistent personal efforts, and the Bulgarian people for their friendship.
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