The Russian ambassador to Macedonia, Oleg Shcherbak, said today that it is for each state to make its own choice when building its national security, be it with NATO membership or by its own military neutrality. He went on to say that it is up to each country be it by referendum, or otherwise, but with respect for the will of the majority, to decide on membership to any alliance.
“Throughout Europe there are many successful military neutral countries, and when regarding national security, this is a rational approach”, speaking at the Faculty of Security, Shcherbak delivered a lecture on “Collective Security Systems: Historical and Actual Views of the Prism of the Russian Federation”.
The Russian ambassador stated that effective security in the 21st century can be only be built on the basis of collective security and with a joint effort of all countries, be they large or small.
“Macedonia’s status of military-neutrality can be very beneficial, and as such allows it to be open to all and thus will be able to help realize economic and social interest of its people without being a burden of European solidarity. We know full well that when solidarity is put before common sense, it is fatal for the national interests”, Shcherbak said.
Ambassador Shcherbak said that NATO is no more than a military-political bloc created by the United States with the sole purpose of opposing the Warsaw Pact, although it has not really existed for 30 years, NATO is still spreading eastward. According to Shcherbak, there is propaganda that Russia presents itself as an aggressor and that the Balkan nations are pushed into making an artificial choice between the East and the West.
