The country has been demonstrating that we are a NATO ally that contributes to security and contributes to the development of a defense cooperation in the Alliance. This is the day when we showcase yet another confirmation that after the successful first year as NATO member, we’ll successfully conclude the overall military integration into NATO, Defence Minister Radmila Shekerinska said Monday after a meeting with the visiting Defence Minister of Montenegro, Olivera Injac.
Shekerinska said she hoped defence cooperation would grow in the coming period, stressing that Minister Injac’s visit coincided with the conclusion of the Decisive Strike 21 military exercise in the country.
She said she would be accompanied by the Montenegrin Minister during a visit to Krivolak military training center, where the Army of North Macedonia, alongside the armies of the United States, Bulgaria and Greece, in the past three weeks have been demonstrating its interoperability skills and capacity.
“At the same time, we’ve shown we are investing not only in our security but also in regional security all the while strengthening our alliance with the neighbors and with the United States, too,” Shekerinska said, adding that the visit of Minister Injac was ‘a show of friendship, unity and willingness for strengthening cooperation.’
“We concurred that Montenegro and North Macedonia joining the Alliance has added a fresh value in the region in terms of increased security and increased capacities to develop our economies. To continue on both the Euro-Atlantic and European road is key for the two countries and as two allies we share that idea, the vision of the Balkans integration in the EU as well,” said Minister Shekerinska.
There’s room for progress, she stressed.
For almost eleven years, Shekerinska said, our Military Academy has been opened for students from Montenegro.
In July, Minister Shekerinska together with her counterparts from Montenegro and Slovenia will tour the Baltic countries in a bid to enhance regional cooperation.
She said she proposed Minister Injac to send officers or civilians from the two countries to the NATO Defense College in Rome.
“Small countries have to manage their finances and human resources smartly. We proposed Montenegro that we should rotate our staff to study there for two years and to secure our place in this key institution,” she said, noting that it was rare for two countries in the region to have no outstanding issues.
Montenegrin Minister Injac said talks focused on several issues and noted that Montenegro and North Macedonia as NATO allies aimed at stabilization, regional security and prosperity of the Western Balkans.
In addition to defence, she said, the two governments also have the potential for better cooperation and progress especially post-pandemic.
