Defense Minister Radmila Shekerinska and her Italian counterpart Lorenzo Guerini at a meeting in Rome on Thursday agreed that North Macedonia and Italy have excellent bilateral cooperation based on their common goal of a stable and prosperous Balkans for a strong Europe, according to the official press release.
The contribution of the Macedonian Army to KFOR in Kosovo, under the command of an Italian general, has further strengthened the ties between the two countries and the security of the Euro-Atlantic area, the release adds.
According to the Ministry of Defense, another proof of the stronger defense ties is the renewed Agreement on Defense Cooperation between North Macedonia and Italy, with it receiving indefinite duration.
Defense Minister Shekerinska stressed that after North Macedonia joined NATO, it has significantly contributed to the collective security of the Alliance.
“We are the newest member of NATO, which motivates us even more to be a recognizable ally giving a significant contribution to the security of all thirty countries,” she said.
She added that the Krivolak training site was evaluated by senior NATO officers as offering conditions to support the development of interoperability of the Alliance.
“The Macedonian Army has started a process of equipping and modernization made possible by the stable budgeting of defense, which we insist on,” Shekerinska noted.
North Macedonia’s defense minister also briefed her counterpart on the Army’s decision to send a staff officer to the Italian NATO corps.
Italy’s defense minister said that North Macedonia’s accession to NATO was an important step toward increased stability and security of the entire Balkans. He expressed strong support for the start of negotiations between North Macedonia and the EU as soon as possible.
The Balkans must be stable, Shekerinska and Guerini agreed, and the renewal of the region’s European perspective is an important step for regional security.
In the Italian Senate, Shekerinska also met with its Defense Committee chairwoman Roberta Pinotti to discuss defense cooperation. Pinotti also expressed her strong support for the start of negotiations between North Macedonia and the EU.
