Macedonia is expected to implement the laws and show reform results until the next NATO summit in year 2008, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki in Brussels yesterday. He also told him that he is always welcome to come to NATO for advice or to present results. Macedonia must strengthen the rule of the law. The achievements in the sphere of defense will no longer be sufficient for the country to receive an invitation for membership at the forthcoming summit.

The NATO secretary general informed Milososki about the summit in Riga, stressing that the Alliance dedicated due deference to enlargement and this meeting. Scheffer promised that Macedonia would participate in the next summit in year 2008 and he stressed that whether or not the country receives an invitation for membership will depend solely on Macedonia.

From this aspect, an important event for Scheffer is the security forum that will be held in Ohrid in June next year. All NATO member-states and partners will participate in this forum. Diplomats say that this will be a chance for the country to show the first results in the economy, the judicature, and the fight against corruption. Milososki informed Scheffer about the situation in the country. He stressed that Macedonia is dedicated to the reforms and that it is investing energetic efforts into achieving these reforms.

The next detailed assessment of the situation in Macedonia is scheduled for 25 January, when a NATO team will arrive in Skopje to attend a meeting dedicated to the Action Plan for membership.