UPDATE - NATO signs accession protocol with Macedonia

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By Yusuf Hatip

BRUSSELS (AA) - Following a historic name-change deal, Macedonia is moving towards the ranks of NATO.

At its Brussels headquarters, NATO on Wednesday signed a protocol for Macedonia’s accession to the military pact.

The protocol was signed by NATO’s 29 member states as well as Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov on behalf of Macedonia.

The ceremony was presided over by Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary general.

Stoltenberg presented Dimitrov the pen to sign the protocol.

Afterwards, at a joint press conference with Dimitrov, Stoltenberg stressed that Macedonia's accession to NATO will boost security in the western Balkans.

The parliaments of all NATO member states need to ratify the accession protocol for Macedonia to join. During this process, Macedonia will attend NATO meetings as a guest.

Last week, Greece’s parliament ratified a historic deal to end a 28-year dispute over its neighbor Macedonia’s name, paving the way for the Balkan country to join NATO and the EU.

Under the deal, Macedonia will be renamed “the Republic of North Macedonia” and Greece will drop its objections to the country joining the EU and NATO.

The name issue has kept Macedonia from joining the EU and NATO since its independence in 1991.

NATO invited Macedonia to begin accession talks to join the alliance at a Brussels summit last July.