The Macedonia Alumni Association in cooperation with NATO Public Diplomacy and the Marshall Center conducted a regional alumni workshop in Ohrid, Macedonia from 10-14 September.  The 3-day workshop entitled “NATO post-Wales:  Future of the Alliance and Regional Stability of the Western Balkans” was opened by the Macedonian Minister of Defense, Dr. Zoran Jolevski.

31 participants from the Western Balkans discussed a range of topics to include the implications of the NATO summit for the region; practical methods of cooperation; global security in the Ukraine, the Middle East and Afghanistan and further NATO enlargement and its Open Door policy.  Speakers came from NATO, the French Ambassador to Macedonia and the UK Defense Attaché to Macedonia, the Ambassador to the OSCE mission in Macedonia as well regional and local speakers.

The workshop concluded with policy recommendations that will be forwarded to all the participants, regional government officials and NATO for consideration.  This is the second year that the Macedonian Alumni Association has been able to conduct a workshop on NATO issues and reflects their hard work and dedication to bringing important regional topics to discussion with alumni leaders in order to develop and promote an exchange of views to support regional cooperation and understanding.