NATO 75th Anniversary - Declaration North Macedonia

Pursuant to Article 68 paragraph 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of North
Macedonia, the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, at its session held on 28
March 2024, adopted the following
DECLARATION
ON THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE REPUBLIC OF
NORTH MACEDONIA IN NATO AND THE SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
FOUNDING OF THE ALLIANCE
Starting from the achieved strategic resolution of the Republic of North Macedonia
for membership in NATO as well as the efforts to achieve the strategic goal of European
integration,
Emphasizing the importance of the democratic processes, individual freedoms and
rights, as well as the collective responsibilities that play a vital role in achieving common
goals and interests, and promoting the common values with other members of the
Alliance,
Referring also to the Decision on Accession of the Republic of Macedonia to NATO
from 1993, the Declaration on Advancing the Relations and Cooperation between the
Republic of Macedonia and NATO from 2004, the Declaration for Seeking Support for the
Admission of the Republic of Macedonia to NATO from 2007, the Declaration on
Reaffirming the Resolution to Achieve the Strategic Goal of Membership of the Republic
of Macedonia in NATO from 2012, Declaration on Acceleration of Reform and Integration
Processes for the Membership of the Republic of Macedonia in the European Union and
NATO from 2017 and the Declaration on Support of the Accession Process for the
Membership of the Republic of Macedonia in NATO from 2018, which were adopted by
the Assembly,
Relying on the continuous and unchanged, unreserved and broad consensual
social support for ensuring a more prosperous, safe and secure future of the citizens, as
the basis of the decades-long active contribution and action by the executive and
legislative authorities for acceding to NATO and fulfilling the contractual obligations
arising from the membership,
Welcoming the 75th anniversary of the Alliance created after the Second World
War as an instrument to support peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area,
Offentligt
NPA Alm.del - Bilag 6
NATO's Parlamentariske Forsamling 2023-24
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Strengthening and improving the mechanisms for cooperation with the neighbours,
members and partners while integrating national, regional and broader social stability and
security,
Working towards implementing the undertaken measures aimed at fulfilling the
obligations, policies and commitments of NATO contained in the Declaration from the
previous summits of the Alliance, reaffirmed at the Summits in Madrid and Vilnius,
Considering that NATO membership is a continuous process that requires the
commitment, work and results of the Alliance in achieving peace, security and the
deterrence and defence policies,
Aware of the responsibility for fulfilling the obligations arising from the NATO
membership and the contribution to achieving collective defence, crisis management, as
well as the contribution to the cooperative security of the Alliance,
Welcoming the country's dedicated engagement to promoting an atmosphere and
politics of regional stability, as a key engine for the security and prosperity of all countries
from the Western Balkans and indirectly to the European continent, in light of the current
security challenges,
Fully affirming the resolution to find modalities within the framework of the Alliance
to address the threats of autocracies to the modern liberal-democratic order,
Taking responsibility for the obligations arising from the Strategic Concept of the
Alliance from 2022,
Agreeing with the commitment for stable and long-term financing of the defence
costs, in accordance with the recommendations of the Summit in Wales and the
reaffirmed commitment of the Summit in Vilnius to the continuity of the Defence
Investment Pledge,
Firmly determined to successfully implement the reform processes and to reach
the highest democratic standards, with the aim of continuing to build the Republic of North
Macedonia into a modern European democracy, an active and respected ally and a
desirable partner for cooperation in international relations and a factor of stability in the
wider region,
Reiterating the unanimous condemnation of Russia's unprovoked aggression
against Ukraine, as a direct violation of its territorial integrity and sovereignty and the
grossest violation of fundamental international norms and principles,
On the eve of the jubilean 75th anniversary of the founding of the Alliance, as a
confirmation of the implementation of all the measures undertaken aimed at fulfilling the
obligations, policies and commitments of NATO contained in the Declarations of the
Summits of the Alliance, the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia:
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1. Reaffirms the broad social unity for achieving the strategic resolution of the
state to become a member of NATO, which led to full membership in 2020 and enabled
the fastest military integration of the Alliance for a period of 19 months;
2. Highlights the importance of our membership in NATO in conditions of
amplified regional and global risks to stability and security, and emphasizes that the
aforesaid has a positive impact on the overall political and economic situation in the state,
by reducing the security and political risks and encouraging domestic and foreign
investments;
3. Welcomes the resolution of the Ministry of Defence, based on the Strategic
Defence Review of 2018 and the Strategy for Defence of 2020, to build a small mobile,
highly motivated and prepared Army, in accordance with the requests and
recommendations of the Alliance, as well as the recognized success in aligning the
national process with the NATO process of defence planning;
4. Supports the continuous implementation of defence reforms aimed at
achieving the Capability Objectives and a higher degree of interoperability;
5. Supports investments towards raising the standard of the members of the
Army and the employees of the Ministry of Defence, aimed at retaining the existing quality
personnel and attracting new personnel;
6. Supports the resolution to meet the level of ambition for participation in
NATO-led operations, as well as the adequate effort and burden sharing with the allies,
by fulfilling the commitments to increase security and stability in the region;
7. Welcomes the contribution in the remaining NATO activities, such as the
enhanced Forward Presence and the enhanced vigilance activities within the 360 degree
approach of deterrence and defence, as well as the readiness to meet the obligations in
achieving the required level of preparedness and readiness, contributing to the family of
plans and the new combat concept through force support within the Alliance’s New Force
Model, including the appropriate filling of national positions within NATO command and
force structures;
8. Positively notes the continuous increase in the defence budget, which
enables the development of the Army’s defence capacities and brings dynamism, in
particular the current allocation of funds for defence, in the amount of 2,05% of GDP in
2024, one third of which is for the process od modernisation and equipment, in
accordance with the standards for NATO member countries;
9. Supports the contribution to strengthening the Alliance’s deterrence and
defence capabilities with forces and capabilities in the New Force Structure, as well as
the future deployment of personnel in three of the eight Alliance groups in Latvia, Romania
and Bulgaria, and our domestic contribution within the Quick Response 22 military
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exercise, as a clear indication of our readiness and our level of interoperability for
cooperation with other armies within the Alliance;
10. Reaffirms the commitment to strengthening peace, stability and security by
contributing to the prevention and management of crises, by maintaining the specific
contribution to the NATO KFOR operation in Kosovo and the NATO mission in Iraq;
11.Values the achieved and reaffirms the resolution for stable long-term planning
and support in the realisation of the defence reform commitments, by investing in
equipping and modernising the Army, as a condition for adequate planning and realisation
of the Capability Objectives;
12.Expresses unreserved support to the commitment to minimize daily political
influences and abuse of the authority and trust that citizens have in the Army, through a
process of depoliticisation of the defence and the Army, and strengthening of civilian and
democratic control over the armed forces;
13. Consistently respects the decision to condemn Russia’s aggression against
Ukraine and welcomes the decision of the Government of the Republic of North
Macedonia to lean toward the implementation of sanctions and restrictive measures of
the democratic and progressive world imposed on Russia;
14. Reaffirms its agreement to the joint decision of the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly on the operationalisation of commitments to the defence of shared democratic
values, through the establishment of a Centre for Democratic Resilience within NATO
headquarters;
15.This Declaration should be delivered to the Secretary General of NATO, the
President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the Presidents of Parliaments of NATO
members states, as well as to the Ambassadors of NATO member states in the Republic
of North Macedonia and
16. This Declaration will be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of
North Macedonia.
ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA
No. 08 – 2148/1
28 March 2024
Skopje
PRESIDENT
ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC
OF NORTH MACEDONIA
Jovan Mitreski
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That this copy is true to the original is certified by:
DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL
OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF
NORTH MACEDONIA
Mr. Nexhbedin Ibraimi