Skopje, 26 March 2024 (MIA) - Courage, dedication and professionalism have allowed us to celebrate the fourth anniversary of what is the greatest investment in the security, stability and prosperity of our country - NATO membership, today at this solemn government session, Defense Minister Slavjanka Petrovska said on Tuesday on occasion of the fourth anniversary of North Macedonia's membership in NATO.

"In short, the brave state decisions, that on March 27, 2020, allowed us to achieve one of the two strategic goals from our independence until today, are an investment in the future of our citizens and country," Petrovska stressed.

Minister Petrovska also highlighted the benefits from the NATO membership, as she said, the first is that our sovereignty, integrity and citizen's safety can never be doubted or threatened.

"For a country that has just over three decades of independence and is located in the Balkans, NATO membership means a huge confirmation of its position on the international stage and a great success. Security comes first, and with stability, it also guarantees investments and greater economic security in the country," Petrovska said.

Therefore, she added, membership in the Alliance was a strategic goal for the country from the first moment of its independence, and we should be proud that today it is reality.

"For four years now we have not been signalled as a Balkan country that needs help, because we are equal to all the member-states and we decide together. From a country that once relied on the international community to keep the peace, North Macedonia is now a country that actively contributes to regional security. And there can be no question of our security being compromised by anyone, because we have the alliance of 32 countries," noted Petrovska.

First Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs, Bojan Marichikj said that four years after being a member of NATO, the best practice is to disprove the scepticism and reservations and hitch from five years ago, because today, we have the opportunity to congratulate ourselves, celebrate, and be proud of North Macedonia as a NATO member.

"Circumstances today prove that we made the right decision, we are on the right side. There is a war in Ukraine, but we are on the safe side of the border in Europe. Neutral countries like Finland and Sweden have changed their foreign and security policies of neutrality in order to become members of NATO, and the situation in the region where three of the six Western Balkan countries are members of NATO, and we are among those three, along with Albania and Montenegro," Marichikj stressed.

He added that although the membership might seem as a gift, we have fought hard for it and made great political sacrifices.

"This reminds us that hard choices are worthwhile for citizens and the state. And that the difficult decisions that we have to make for EU membership - yes, we politicians will certainly be worried, but be sure, when we celebrate the anniversary of EU membership - that citizens will be grateful to us- both for what we will do and for what we have done," Marichikj noted. ssh/sk/