Foreign Relations of The Republic of Macedonia - Key Priorities

Key Priorities

Key priorities in the foreign relations are:

• Promotion of the Republic of Macedonia as a NATO candidate country, active participation within the established institutional framework – Partnership for Peace, EAPC, implementation of the NATO Membership Action Plan – aiming at creating conditions for receiving membership invitation at the 2008 NATO Summit. Participation in peace missions (UN, NATO, EU) in support of peace, security and stability.

• Fulfilling the required criteria and their presentation for the purpose of ensuring that the EU will bring a decision on a date for start of EU membership negotiations. As an EU candidate country, in the accession process the Republic of Macedonia builds internal legal mechanisms, instruments and capacities for harmonization with the EU Acquis in this area and for making active contribution to the development of CFSP and ESDP.

• Continuous strengthening of the strategic partnership with the United States, while devoting special attention to the relations and cooperation also with the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China.

• Good-neighborliness, friendship and readiness for comprehensive cooperation with neighbor-countries in numerous areas of mutual interest. Strengthening the mutual trust and, at the same time, a complementary factor on the way of the Republic of Macedonia to the EU and NATO.

• Active participation in the work of international organizations, UN and its specialized agencies, WTO – and at the regional level – OSCE, Council of Europe against global threats: terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, global warming, organized crime, damages to the environment, economic and social issues, disrespect for human rights etc.

• Promotion of the national, cultural and spiritual identity beyond the borders of the Republic of Macedonia.

• Regard for the communities and minorities living outside the state borders and improvement of their legal status and the treatment of the Macedonian National Minority abroad, in accordance with the international agreements as well as with the concluded bilateral agreements and treaties.