Defense Minister Talat Xhaferi and Macedonian Army (ARM) Chief of Staff, Major-General Goranco Koteski, met Wednesday with Brigadier General Wolfgang Richter, Chief of J9 at NATO's Joint Force Command Naples.

Minister Xhaferi presented the Defense Ministry's operations and activities, as well as ARM's process of harmonizing with NATO, the Ministry said in a press release.

General Richter voiced satisfaction from Macedonia's progress and achievements.

"You are going in the right direction and we are at disposal for any assistance. You have achieved everything you were required. I am convinced that if hadn't been for the political name dispute, you would have been a NATO member already", he stressed.

The Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) Naples prepares, plans and executes military operations towards securing peace, stability and territorial integrity of NATO member-states. The KFOR mission in Kosovo is under the command's jurisdiction.