Panel debate at SEEU: Macedonia's NATO membership and the Lisbon Summit - looking to the future

On Monday (15 November 2010), SEEU hosted the panel discussion on "Macedonia's membership in NATO and the Lisbon Summit - looking to the future", where the U.S. Ambassador to Macedonia H.E. Philip Reeker, the President of DUI Mr. Ali Ahmeti and honorary president of the Ohrid Institute, Dr. Andrej Lepavcov participated.
H. E. Ambassador Reeker, after thanking Ambassador Reka for organizing this panel, congratulated SEEU for its 9th anniversary of the establishment.
"Next year you will mark the first decade of the SEEU founding - a milestone for the university and an opportunity for higher education in this country and the region." Also, he congratulated the new rector, Prof. Dr. Zamir Dika, for his new position and the Rector Emeritus Alajdin Abazi for his achievements and leadership.
"The transfer of leadership from the founding Rector to the new Rector was a model of transparency and professionalism," said Ambassador Reeker. Speaking on the topic, Ambassador Reeker said that the Alliance Summit in Lisbon would redefine its priorities in line with global challenges.
"While in the NATO Summit held in Washington in 1999 the priority was the Balkans, the main topic in Lisbon, will be the engagement of NATO forces in Afghanistan," said Ambassador Reeker. The President of DUI, Mr. Ali Ahmeti, said that the NATO intervention in the Balkans - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia have contributed to the stabilization and return of peace and an opportunity for the countries in the region to achieve their goals for membership in NATO and the EU.
"For Macedonia there is no alternative other than NATO and EU and this requires that all political parties in the country, scientific institutions, NGO sector and the entire public to contribute building a sustainable political and ethinic consensus” said Mr. Ahmeti.
The vice-Rector for Research and Promotion at SEEU, Prof. Dr. Blerim Reka, emphasized that the internal political stability of the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement and the resolution of the problem with Greece over the name are two key conditions for Macedonia's integration into NATO.
"The integration in NATO means being part of the big family that ensures peace and stability in the region and the world", said Vice-rector Blerim Reka. For Professor Andrej Lepavcov, is difficult to compromise, but such a compromise should be reached.
 "Macedonia should continue with reforms in the military sector but also in other areas because the Alliance is not only a military alliance, but also a community of states with common visions for the rule of law and functioning civil society," he said.