The Republic of North Macedonia has endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.
North Macedonia attended the first international follow-up conference on the Political Declaration in Oslo, Norway in April 2024.
Statements and positions
North Macedonia has aligned with several statements delivered by the European Union (EU) on the issue of EWIPA, including at the 2024 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilian in Armed Conflict, when the EU expressed that given the significant impact of the explosive weapons in populated areas its use should be restricted or avoided.1 At the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, in which the EU welcomed the political declaration and highlighted the importance of its adoption. The EU also highlighted the work ahead for implementing the declaration’s commitments, including at the 2024 Oslo Conference.2
In 2018 and 2019, North Macedonia joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.3