Macedonia's membership to NATO will positively affect both Greece and other countries in the region, the country's Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki says in a column published in The Hill - a specialised political newspaper that covers activities conducted by the US Congress.

"Greece’s objections to Macedonia’s NATO membership stem from a myth that an independent Republic of Macedonia would pose a threat to Greek territorial integrity. On the contrary, NATO membership will bind Macedonia and Greece into an unbreakable security alliance, as well as provide Greece with the comfort of sharing land borders exclusively with NATO member states," FM Poposki writes in his column published in light of the NATO summit in Chicago.

The minister stressed that Macedonia has met the NATO membership criteria, among them demonstrating a steadfast commitment to human rights, strengthening the rule of law, building democratic institutions and allocating a significant percentage of its GDP to defense expenditures.

"As we all work to put behind us the ethnic, religious or nationalist divisions across the region that divided us so tragically in the past, Macedonia's entry into NATO would show our Balkan neighbors that the long road to meeting the alliance’s benchmarks does ultimately pay off. But if Macedonia’s years of preparation and commitments find no reward and come to naught, those difficult reforms at home become more difficult - and our neighbors that have further to go will take notice as well," says FM Poposki.

Furthermore, the minister mentions the judgement of the International Court of Justice that Greece may not block Macedonia's accession to NATO. "Macedonia will continue to engage in talks with Greece and seek an agreement that is mutually acceptable and in line with core democratic values."

Poposki in the text also mentions the efforts made by the United States in providing lasting peace and prosperity in the Balkans as well as Macedonia's contribution to the peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan.

"The Republic of Macedonia already plays a critical role in the trans-Atlantic alliance. We were among the first countries to join the global coalition against terrorism and send troops to both Iraq and Afghanistan, where we are one of the top five per capita troop contributors. At this moment, Macedonian soldiers are guarding the NATO compound in Kabul — literally protecting one door to NATO while unable to step through another," the Macedonian FM notes.

Several influential US congressmen have voiced support for Macedonia's membership to NATO and for extending a membership invitation at the Chicago summit. At the same time, the US Department of State has said that a decision will not be reached on NATO enlargement at the summit.