Skopje, 3 March 2026 (MIA) - The country’s NATO membership is a result of the strategic, visionary, statesmanlike policies of the Social Democratic Union the past decades, opposition party SDSM’s leader and MP Venko Filipche told journalists Tuesday after NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte addressed the country’s Parliament.

“We had a chance to hear his address in Parliament. I would say the country’s NATO membership is a result of the strategic, visionary, statesmanlike policies of the Social Democratic Union the past decades. It wasn’t an easy road, but now we can finally feel safe, with our borders guaranteed. Thanks to those policies, we are part of the largest security alliance in the world. We can especially see how important this is now, during this time of crisis, with wars being waged in several parts of the world,” Filipche said.

According to the opposition leader, in his address to Parliament Rutte sent clear messages to the Government.

“I think the message to the Government is clear. This Government cannot hide anything anymore, like the fact that we have a Deputy Prime Minister who fosters close ties with Russia – I am talking about Deputy PM [Ivan] Stoilkovikj. The second man in the Government meets with people who are in direct communication with Russian President Putin, the aggressor in Ukraine,” Filipche stressed.

Photo: MIA