Macedonia's priority is NATO and EU membership, because this gives the country certainty, it sends positive signals to investors, but also enables us to cope with issues in the long run, without any illusions that membership would solve everything, Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki told journalists on Monday with regards to current developments and recent meetings.

According to him, Macedonia's biggest argument is that the country contributes to regional stability and prosperity.

"We have still not found a valid argument why we should not join NATO, taking into account the relatively clear situation from the aspect of meeting criteria. Pertaining to the EU, we expect maintenance of the recommendation for start of accession negotiations, accompanied by the continual progress in Macedonia's European file", added Poposki.

Macedonia is blocked by Greece both in NATO and EU, while Athens has still not presented its official position over their perception of the Hague ruling.

"Greece is currently overwhelmed by the debt crisis and the situation is not encouraging. Greece has no interest in keeping Macedonia out of NATO and EU, the motivation is mainly based on inertia and they cannot break free from the trap they are in", stressed Minister Poposki.

He said Macedonia remained fully committed to the UN-led process, open to enable Greece's constructiveness towards making a step forward.

"The NATO summit in Chicago is not our crucial time reference. What is important is that Macedonia has delivered the whole membership package, and Greece is obliged, both with regards to international law and the role it plays as a regional actor, to contribute to enhanced regional stability", emphasized FM Poposki.

Macedonia's goal, he added, is not to challenge the consensus as a decision-making rule in NATO, but that the consensus leads to crucial benefits towards a higher interest for the Alliance.

"Macedonia favors the consensus, but one in NATO's interest, not one favoring the harmful interests of a member-state", said Poposki.

He underlined that the Euro-Atlantic family should be more focused on the region's long-term strategy, not only on crisis management.