A threshold for European aspirations. NATO membership. 2008.
A threshold for European aspirations. NATO membership. 2008.

Author(s): Author Not Specified
Subject(s): Government/Political systems, Security and defense, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
Published by: Аналитика Тинк-тенк Организација
Keywords: NATO; territorial integrity of Macedonia; democratic norms and values of Europe; EU membership; security and defense;
Summary/Abstract: At a meeting with NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jaap D.H. Scheffer, former Macedonian Prime Minister, Vlado Buckovski, talking about the NATO demands for 110% fair elections in Macedonia, said: “Secretary General, you're asking for miracles. But I accept the miracle.”. This is a regular political joke, especially since the elections of July 2006 were not exactly “110% fair”. Yet, this statement is also indicative from another perspective – it speaks about the political discourse in Macedonia, how things are perceived, referred to and understood. Thus, it seems rather ironic, if unsurprising, that the Macedonian discourse about NATO should revolve around ‘miracles’ – demanding or accepting them. NATO officials have continually emphasized the ‘rational’ nature of NATO, its enlargement and the criteria for enlargement. There should be nothing miraculous about them! When a state is ready, when all necessary reforms and preparations in the defense and political sectors have been completed, it receives an invitation for NATO membership. In the meantime, NATO evaluates the progress of reforms and provides guidelines and recommendations. It is as simple as that.

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