English
We deliver and do what we say. When we say and promise something, we try to fulfill it. We do what we say – both in life and in politics, real politics. You don’t have to improvise. It is better to remain silent than to improvise and say something that you are not able to deliver. So, whatever we say and say, we do. We have a plan. We are now among NATO countries and NATO allies who are meeting their commitments and goals, reaching 3.5 percent by 2035 for military spending and, as a supplement to that, 1.5 percent investment in strategic infrastructure – meaning highways, railways, water lines for energy transmission, which was considered a kind of bottleneck on our continent. Therefore, I must proudly say that, yes, we are dedicated, we have a plan and we are following that plan, said Prime Minister Hristijan Mitskoski in his remarks before the Atlantic Council in Washington DC today.
Mickoski estimated that the country is in much better shape than three years ago and is confident, as he mentioned, that in three years it will be in an even better position.
If we analyze the situation in my country, I can probably say that yes, we are in better shape than a year ago and we are in much better shape compared to the situation in my country three years ago. I firmly believe that in three years from now, my country will have a better position and will be in better shape compared to today, the prime minister said.
According to Mickoski, the strategic partnership with the United States has been going on for decades, they are our strongest ally.
Our strategic partnership with the USA did not come overnight. It is a decades-old strategic partnership and a continuation of that trajectory. We believe that our strongest ally is the United States of America. I and our Government believe that we share the same harms, and in life, when you choose a partner, you choose a partner. Playing double games or having double standards is not something that is desired by me personally, nor by my Government. Therefore, standing side by side with strategic partners – chosen once – should last forever. If we change our opinion depending on the politics of the day, then no one will trust you and no one will have confidence in the already future partnership. We can only deepen our strategic partnership with the USA. We may be a small country, but we have a very good geographical position in the heart of the Balkans. We may be a few kilometers away from the sea, but we are a natural crossroads of several very important projects in the region and in Europe in general. So, I think that our strategic partnership with the USA will be beneficial for everyone, not only for the two countries, but also for the region and for Europe, said the Prime Minister