This day changed the vision about peace, security and stability, confirming the fundamental objective of the Washington Treaty, said Defense Minister Talat Xhaferi at Friday's observance of the NATO Day in Skopje.

"The Alliance was and remains the main generator in sharing the common values of democracy, freedom, justice, human rights and liberties, as well as many other general civilizational values", said Xhaferi.

According to him, NATO member-states would find a way to put the enlargement issue high on the agenda at the September summit in the UK.

"Macedonia shares and promotes the same values and interests with Alliance member-states. NATO membership is seen as an essential prerequisite for increase of security and stability, which will positively influence the business environment, economic growth, development and well-being of our citizens", stressed Xhaferi.

He said Macedonia remained committed to further contribution in post-2014 Afghanistan mission "Resolute Support".

"The Macedonian Army has experts for training and providing advice in the fields of military police, communications, intelligence etc, in line with the needs and national capacities and capabilities", added Xhaferi.

Head of the NATO Liaison Office in Macedonia, Colonel Aleksandar Aleksandrov said the organization was not only an alliance of states with shared value systems based on consensual decisions.

"NATO is an alliance of fully independent states that exist and decide as such, and not in conditions of limited sovereignty", stressed Aleksandrov.

NATO Day is traditionally celebrated by all NATO member states and partner countries. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was established by 12 Western nations on 4 April 1949 in Washington.