Today the President of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, took participation on the NATO Leaders Meeting in London on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Alliance and in his address, as 30th speaker, he underlined that the event reaffirms the mutual commitment of the allies for securing peace, stability and prosperity in the whole Euro-Atlantic area. His speech was welcomed with a round of applause by the leaders in the Alliance.

Prime Minister Zaev at the meeting presided by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson, in the presence of the other leaders, heads of states and/or governments of the member-states said that the strategic goal of North Macedonia for NATO membership, which was a dream of many generations in our country, now becomes a reality.

Zaev expressed his satisfaction and appreciation for the fast dynamic of ratification of the Accession Protocol of North Macedonia in NATO which is a proof for the fact that the country is welcomed in the Trans-Atlantic family.

The President of the Government Zaev said that North Macedonia is ready to undertake the obligations coming as full-fledged member to give its contribution to the multi-dimensional challenges of NATO which are changing daily.

In that line, said Prime Minister Zaev, North Macedonia is undertaking transformative reform processes for stable and sustainable projection for financing of defence and fair allocation of obligations by increasing the defence budget of the country of 0.2% GDP in order to reach the 2% of GDP by 2024. An important part of this allocation, about 23% is devoted to the modernization of the army.

Prime Minsiter Zaev reminded that the Army of North Macedonia has an active participant in NATO missions as of 2002 in Afghanistan and will continue to give its contribution as a reliable partner of NATO in the combat against terrorism.

In the conclusion of his speech he underlined that the NATO membership of North Macedonia is a stabilizing factor for the region and is a stimulation for the remaining WB countries that have expresses their determination to become members of the Alliance and expressed his expectation that the flag raising ceremony for North Macedonia in front of NATO HQ will symbolically seal our place among the allies that are united for freedom, peace and democracy.