UPDATE - N.Macedonia to become full NATO member by end of 2019

UPDATES WITH NATO STATEMENT

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that North Macedonia is to become a full-fledged member by the end of 2019.

Speaking at a news conference in Brussels, Stoltenberg said that the ratification of the accession protocol for North Macedonia will be completed by December and it will become a full-fledged member at the London summit.

Stoltenberg's remarks came a day before the start of a two-day NATO meeting at the level of defense ministers in Brussels, where North Macedonia's Defense Minister Radmila Sekerinska is also taking part.

"It does not depend on me how fast they will ratify, but it would be very good if they can finish by December when leaders meet in London. If not then, I expect it to happen very soon afterwards," said Stoltenberg.

Bloc’s chief stressed that North Macedonia meets all standards for NATO membership.

According to him, the membership of North Macedonia in NATO is a signal that the policy of "open doors" is functioning successfully.

"NATO enlargement is a great success story that helps to spread prosperity, stability and democracy in Europe," Stoltenberg said.

The two-day NATO meeting in Brussels, on Tuesday and Wednesday, expects ministers to discuss alliance members' commitments.

They are also expected to address the rising tensions in the Middle East, with the U.S. announcing the deployment of 1,000 extra troops and an airstrike carrier group to the region to oppose Iran and Iranian military downing an American drone.

"The agenda will also focus on a dispute with Russia over the nuclear charter that Moscow violates, and talks about the challenges and opportunities for the development of a space program at the Alliance level," said Stoltenberg.

According to a Tuesday statement by the military alliance, the Brussels meeting will be held to take decisions to continue modernizing NATO.

The meeting will discuss progress on burden sharing within NATO, the alliance's defense and deterrence posture, new technologies and NATO mission in Afghanistan, Stoltenberg was cited in the statement as saying.