5 February 2010, Istanbul

Secretary General, Ministers, Dear colleagues,

In my short intervention I would like to point out several facts:

• The Republic of Macedonia remains fully committed to its strategic goal to becoming part of NATO and the European Union and therefore remains committed to maintaining its full capacity to share the burden together with the Alliance in accordance with its priorities;
• We therefore confirm our future enhanced contribution to Afghanistan as previously announced and re-confirmed at the London Conference. Not only that we will enhance our future contribution to Afghanistan as of April this year for up to 50%, but we will also directly contribute to the transition of security responsibility. Together with the US National Guard Vermont we will be engaged in the training and mentorship of the Afghan security forces;
• The Macedonian contribution to Afghanistan, including the Macedonian company securing the ISAF HQ in Kabul, our officers in the OMLTs, our medical staff within the Joint Macedonian-Norwegian Medical Surgical Team in the Norwegian PRT in Meymanah, and our forthcoming enhanced contribution, will therefore reach the significant size of 4% deployed land forces of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia;
• In the meantime we remain committed to regional cooperation, mentorship and stability, as we see them key to the stability of the Region and to the promotion of stability beyond the Region itself. We therefore offer our national centers specifically tailored to pre-deployment force training not only to the countries in the Region but also to all of our NATO partners. The outstanding Training Area Krivolak and the pre-deployment medical Training center are centers which can shape up and enhance our individual capacity and the capacity of the Region to export security;
•  Finally, let me conclude my remarks by joining our common position that 2010 will be an important year for Afghanistan and that our discussions today will in a way set the path for the months ahead. Allow me to just add one remark to it by stating that 2010 will be an important year for the Republic of Macedonia as well. A year, when we do hope to get the place we truly deserve in the Alliance of equals - so that we will be able to deliver even more stability, security and peace – to our Region and to the world itself.

Thank you.