Defense Minister Fatmir Besimi met Tuesday in Washington with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Philip Reeker and director of National Security Council (NSC) for economic affairs in Europe and EU-US relations, Rick Holtzapple.

Minister Besimi referred to the excellent cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and the United states in the fields of defense and security, expressing gratitude for the open and continual U.S. support to the country's reforms and Euro-Atlantic integration, the Defense Ministry said in a press release.

Talks also tackled the coming NATO Summit in Chicago and the significance of Macedonia's sooner accession, which would have a positive effect on the region, but also the Alliance.

The United States National Security Council is the principal forum used by the U.S. President for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials and is part of the Executive Office of the President of the United States. Since its inception in 1947, the function of the Council has been to advise and assist the president on national security and foreign policies. The Council also serves as the president's principal arm for coordinating these policies among various government agencies.