Macedonia is a constant topic in NATO, but the country will be invited to join the Alliance when the name dispute is going to be settled, Phillip Reeker, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, said Wednesday after meeting Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.

"Macedonia is always on our agenda and has been a topic in NATO for a long time now. As you know since Bucharest we have been regularly saying that Macedonia will receive an invitation for the Alliance's membership as soon as the two countries, Greece and Macedonia, find a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue. It will lead to a consensus in NATO, which is the foundation of the North Atlantic Alliance," Reeker said to a journalist's question about a possibility Macedonia to be on the agenda of forthcoming NATO Summit in Chicago.

To a question if NATO will respect the judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), considering that a settlement of the name row with Greece is still a precondition for Macedonia's membership, Reeker reaffirmed the consensus as a fundamental decision-making principle at the Alliance.

"The ICJ ruling is a ruling of the international court. It is a fact. NATO - the North-Atlantic treaty is a treaty by itself under the law, which requires consensus for undertaking very sacred, important responsibilities stemming from the membership. The responsibilities of NATO membership mean that existing and new members should be comfortable and agree to do that. The consensus is the reason why NATO has remained as successful and effective," Reeker said.

He reaffirmed Washington's position that the ICJ ruling offered an excellent opportunity for speeding up the efforts in favor of finding a solution (to the name), enabling Macedonia to advance and get an invitation for NATO membership.

NATO is keeping its doors open and the US supports that, as it does in regard to Macedonia's accession to the Alliance, which is also Washington's goal, Reeker said.

He also expressed hope for the Macedonian top officials to follow the suit of the leadership of late President (Kiro) Gligorov in order to deal with the numerous challenges the country and the region "have been facing in today's complex world."