Skopje, 5 April 2025 (MIA) — The NATO Parliamentary Assembly Standing Committee, whose members are heads and deputy heads of national parliamentary delegations, is holding its regular yearly meeting in Parliament, after opening remarks given by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Minister of Defense Vlado Misajlovski, and parliamentary delegation head Dragan Kovachki.

In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Mickoski said the country had received solidarity and help in the aftermath of the Kochani tragedy. He said it had also repeatedly shown solidarity with other countries in the past.

"On our thorny path to the goal, we have made many concessions, many sacrifices, and many of them were questioned by citizens. Some raised justified doubts, but we persevered and showed our loyalty to the values we continue to believe in," Mickoski said.

"In return, our homeland did not always get what it expected," he said, adding that this was the public sentiment in the country. 

"I think it is important to know this. This bitterness should not be hidden by any Macedonian," he said.

The prime minister said allies should consider ways of preventing bilateral disputes from standing in the way of achieving shared goals.

"Friends help each other, but friends also honestly share their feelings and criticism. I believe we should also consider introducing mechanisms where bilateral disputes will not be allowed to pose an obstacle to the achievement of our collective and common goal. If we all protect our house together, then together we have the right to tell each other our problems, disappointments and expectations. We will remain a loyal partner, and together and with dedication we will work toward achieving collective goals," Mickoski said.

He said nine European countries had offered their help immediately after the Kochani tragedy.

"The European Union, through the Civil Protection Mechanism, coordinated medical evacuations of the injured to specialized hospitals in the region. This tragedy showed us that solidarity is not just a word, but a deed connecting people," Mickoski said.

He also spoke about the improved interoperability of the national army with the armies of other allies. He said the army was working on improving strategic planning, modernizing equipment, and transparent management of defense resources. 

"The state's security and integrity are a top priority," he said, adding that regional cooperation was key to stability in the Balkans.

"We believe the Balkans can and should serve as an example of resolving differences through dialogue and mutual respect," the prime minister said. 

Defense Minister Misajlovski said the meeting of the NATO PA Standing Committee, the first of its kind in the country, was a strong signal of unity within the Alliance.

"We remain committed to stable investment in defense, by allocating 2 percent of GDP," Misajlovski said, adding that one of the most important goals of defense spending was to modernize the army and strengthen national and collective defense.

The minister also said that NATO defense ministers were the first ones to offer support after the Kochani fire, "when the entire nation was in shock," he said.

"For me, there is no greater proof that we are not alone. We have 31 allies. We have real friends who we can ask help from. That is NATO. That is the Alliance. That is the unbreakable bond that makes 32 countries in the Alliance one united force," Misajlovski said.

Parliamentary delegation head Kovachki highlighted that the meeting marked the fifth anniversary of the country's NATO membership.

"In these five years, our nation has remained a dedicated ally, actively sharing responsibilities and contributing to promoting peace, security and stability in our region and across the NATO area," Kovachki said, thanking the allies who provided critical assistance that saved many lives after the Kochani fire.

President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Marcos Perestrello congratulated the country on its NATO membership anniversary and also spoke about the allies' solidarity in the aftermath of the Kochani tragedy. He said fifteen allies had provided direct support, including assistance in medical evacuation.

After the introductory speeches, the meeting continued in a closed format.

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly provides a unique specialized forum for members of parliament from across the Atlantic Alliance to discuss and influence decisions on Alliance security. 

One of the most important ways Assembly members seek to do that is through a set of reports, authored by Rapporteurs elected by each Committee. These reports raise parliamentary awareness on key issues affecting the security of the Euro-Atlantic area, which supports national parliamentary oversight over defense and security. 

They also develop policy recommendations for members states and parliaments as well as NATO itself. mr/