Allies will not take decisions on further enlargement of NATO in Chicago, but they will nonetheless send a clear, positive message to aspirant countries in support of their membership goals, the US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Tina Kaidanow, said at hearing of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia.

"Macedonia has fulfilled key criteria required of NATO members and has contributed to regional and global security. The United States fully supports the UN process, led by Ambassador (Matthew) Nimitz, and regularly engages with both Greece and Macedonia in order to find a mutually acceptable solution to the name dispute in order to fulfill the decision taken at the NATO Summit in Bucharest and extend a membership offer to Macedonia," Kaidanow said.

The US has been clear that NATO's door remains open to new members that meet the Alliance’s standards, Kaidanow said.

"Bosnia/Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Georgia are all working closely with Allies to meet NATO criteria so they may enter the Alliance," she added.