Skopje, 20 October 2021 (MIA) – Minister of Defence Radmila Shekerinska attended on Wednesday at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe a street-naming ceremony during which a central roundabout at the command was named after North Macedonia’s capital, Skopje. The event was in line with the tradition of naming streets at the command after the capitals of NATO members. “This ceremony is a special honor that you have given to me, to us, to my country, but also to my beloved city. It is a demonstration of our endurance and achievement of our strategic goal – NATO accession. We earned NATO membership with a lot of work and endurance. The name of our capital, Skopje, is rightly among Alliance capitals at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers. We were never a passive partner, nor are we a passive ally. We’ve contributed to NATO missions and operations, working hand in hand with partners in Iraq and Afghanistan. As an ally, through participation in the KFOR mission in Kosovo, we continue to promote peace and regional stability,” the Minister said at the ceremony. She added that naming the roundabout at the NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Skopje, is a symbolic gesture that NATO’s doors remain open and that North Macedonia’s accession has brought added value to the Alliance. NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Tod Wolters, commanded Minister Shekerinska’s involvement in the ceremony, stressing that it reaffirms the joint system of values of NATO-s 30 member states and their commitment to strengthening peace and security. “As many of you know, one of our favorite NATO Defence Ministers is Madame Minister [Shekerinska] and just having her here speaks volumes to the character of North Macedonia, to her character, and she just does things in a way that makes all of us proud to serve in NATO. She woke up a 2 am and flew in here with her team, which is something which she does often, but it speaks volumes about how much she cares about us, how much she cares about NATO, how much she cares about freedom. Madame Minister, you stopped and you said hello and you shook hands and you greeted each and every one of our military representatives and I know this – each and every one of them will have an impression of you for the rest of their lives. And that’s a Defence Minister that truly cares about people and generating peace,” Wolters said. Minister Shekerinska is also set to hold a meeting with Wolters, during which they will discuss North Macedonia’s role as a pillar for security in the region, as well as its participation in Alliance missions. North Macedonia is an active participant in KFOR, with 65 Army members participating in the force.