26-27-28 May 2004

NATO Secretary General visits aspirant countries News 25/05/2004 - NATO NATO Secretary General to visit the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia1 27-28 May 2004 25/05/2004 - NATO NATO Secretary General to visit Croatia - 26 May 2004 Background NATO's role in the Former Yugoslav Replublic of Macedonia1 NATO Enlargement Membership Action Plan Opinions 26/05/2004 - NATO Speech by NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer before the Croatian Parliament, Zagreb, Croatia 27/05/2004 - NATO Speech by NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, at the Parliament of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia1 During a visit to Croatia, Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia1, 26-28 May, the NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, said the door to NATO remained opened but that membership depended on reforms. The three partner countries are formally aspiring to NATO membership. The visit was an opportunity for the Secretary General to discuss the progress of key reforms efforts, but also to outline the agenda of NATO’s upcoming Istanbul Summit. “You all know by now that no new invitations are expected at our Istanbul Summit next month. This should not come as a surprise,” the Secretary General said in an address to the Macedonian Parliament, at the end of his trip, “But the door to NATO will remain open. And I am certain that the desire to walk through that door will remain a powerful incentive for the aspirants, including this country, to continue on the path of reform.” The Secretary General said that the three countries are moving closer to NATO membership. He praised them for the efforts made under NATO’s membership action plan. He emphasized, that in the Balkans, good neighbourly relations were a particularly important criterion for membership. Consolidation of democratic reforms, strengthening the rule of law and defence reform were other areas in which progress was essential. Mr De Hoop Scheffer visited all three capitals where he met government officials. In Zagreb, he met President Stjepan Mesić, Prime Minister Ivo Sanadar, Foreign Minister Miomir Žužul, Minister of Defence Berislav Rončević and President of the Croatian Parliament Vladimir Šeks. In Albania, he held meetings with President Alfred Moisiu, Prime Minister Fatos Nano, Foreign Minister Kastriot Islami and Defence Minister Pandeli Majko; and in Skopje he met President Branko Crvenkovski, Prime Minister designate Hari Kostov, Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva, Minister of Defence Vlado Buckovski, as well as the Minister of Justice Ixhet Memeti. The visit to Skopje also presented an opportunity to meet for the first time President Branko Crvenkovski, the successor of the tragically deceased President Boris Trajkovski. Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.