TIRANA – Four F-16s from the 337th Hellenic Airforce Combat Wing accompanied a pair of American B-1B bombers on a mission to welcome North Macedonia into NATO by flying over the capital Skopje on Friday.
Friday’s ceremonial flight was watched by US Ambassador to Skopje Kate Marie Byrnes and the country’s defense minister, Radmila Sekerinska.
North Macedonia became the alliance’s 30th member on March 27, following the settlement of its name dispute with Greece in 2018.
Sekerinska said the Covid-19 pandemic must not overshadow the country’s membership in NATO and the approval for the start of talks for its accession to the European Union.
“Our US allies convey strong pledges that our two countries maintain an excellent cooperation and that after the continuous support which they gave during the path towards NATO and after accession it remains our most powerful and strategic partner,” said Defense Minister Sekerinska. / argumentum.al
