NATO is not merely a sum of military powers, it is also a family that shares common values and a wish to protect these values. The Alliance is based on the principles of freedom, democracy and rule of law and aspiring countries must meet these criteria. Modern challenges, including terrorism and the migrant crisis, require heightened cooperation and the capacity to adapt to new circumstances in order such challenges to be addressed successfully.

These are some of the points of participants in an event held on NATO Day, organized Tuesday in Skopje by the Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense and the NATO contact embassies to Macedonia. 

Minister of Defense Zoran Jolevski said Euro-Atlantic integration remained a top priority of Macedonia. NATO membership, he added, guarantees the prosperity and security not only of Macedonia, but also of the countries in the region and beyond, and as a result the Alliance must resume its open-door policy.

"Nowadays, NATO is considered a crucial alliance in maintaining global peace, improving relations between nations, preventing wars and advancing human rights and overall progress of the countries," noted the Minister.

Referring to the reform and modernization process undergoing within the Macedonian Army (ARM), Jolevski said the country had built an army worthy of respect and prepared at all times to perform its constitutional duties all the while being side by side with its allies in international peace missions.

"Macedonia will continue to act in a constructive manner and to make necessary efforts so as to protect national security and security of the region and beyond. I'm confident that our efforts will be adequately recognized and that Macedonia will get its well-deserved place as full-fledged member of the Alliance. Thus, NATO members will demonstrate a serious approach to security in the region," said DM Jolevski.

Addressing the NATO Day event, US Ambassador Jess Baily said NATO doors remained open for nations in Europe that were prepared to adopt membership commitments and to contribute to security in the Euro-Atlantic region.

In Macedonia, he noted, we keep on supporting the country's goal to join NATO.

According to the Ambassador, to meet this goal one must be aware that NATO is not only a sum of military forces, but it is also a family sharing common values and a desire to protect these values as much as protecting people and territories.

In that respect, Baily said, it is necessary a government to be formed in Macedonia as soon as possible that will be fully committed to reform processes and fulfilling of required criteria.

The NATO Day event aims at promoting the history, values and goals of the Alliance and at championing the importance of Euro-Atlantic integration for Macedonia.

The event also saw speeches being delivered by the ambassadors of Croatia and Spain, Danijela Barisic and Ramon Abaroa Carranza respectively, and the Chief of the NATO Liaison Office Skopje, Navy Captain Gorazd Bartol.

NATO Day is traditionally celebrated by all NATO member states and partner countries. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was established by 12 Western nations on 4 April 1949 in Washington.