NATO HQ Skopje (NHQS)

NATO's military mission to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia* is the successor to a series of military operations which began in 2001 with "Operation Essential Harvest” which supported the building of confidence in the peace process by collecting weapons voluntarily handed in by ethnic Albanian insurgents. Today the missions' role is to advise the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia* Government authorities on military aspects of Security Sector Reform in order to contribute to further Euro-Atlantic integration and provide support to NATO-led operations within the Balkans Joint Area of Operations.

 

NHQS was created in Apr 02 by the amalgamation of two HQs, namely KFOR REAR and AMBER FOX.

NHQS is a non-tactical HQ and consists of about 180 personnel, military and civilian.

 

NATO's first mission in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia* began on 26 Aug 01 with OPERATION ESSENTIAL HARVEST. On 26 Sep 01 a new mission named "AMBER FOX” was launched in which NATO contributed to the protection of international monitors. As security improved the mission was terminated and, by invitation of the government, "ALLIED HARMONY” began. ALLIED HARMONY had a mandate to demonstrate NATO's continued presence and commitment to facilitating the reconciliation process in order to promote stability by deterring the resurgence of ethnically motivated violence.

The Allies have assisted in the development of a transformation plan for the country's armed forces that includes: detailed programmes covering logistics, personnel, equipment, training, and a timetable for the restructuring of key military units. Other key objectives include improving ethnic minority representation in civil/military defence structures and judicial and police reform.

 

In April 2008, Allies agreed that the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia* will be invited to start accession talks as soon as a mutually acceptable solution to the issue over the country's name has been reached with Greece.