The Macedonian Government welcomed the closing declaration from the NATO Summit in Riga, assessing it as a big incentive for continuation and intensification of the reforms. Conveying the conclusions adopted at the special government session, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski thanked the NATO member-states and US President George Bush for their support.

 

"We thank the presidents and prime ministers of all member-states, including US President George Bush. His statement is further encouragement for the Government and Macedonian citizens to continue with the reforms so that the country can become qualified for membership in NATO and so that we can create higher standards of living, managing, and governing of the country," Gruevski said.