Defense Minister Radmila Shekerinska took part Friday in the second day of a meeting of NATO defense ministers, focusing on peacekeeping missions and UN Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.

Minister Shekerinska said North Macedonia has resumed its participation in the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan by preparing for the deployment of a surgical team in cooperation with the Kingdom of Norway. She added that the country’s presence in Afghanistan would be adapted in accordance with the NATO withdrawal plans, the Defense Ministry said in a press release.

Shekerinska also highlighted the latest deployment of 44 army members to the KFOR mission in Kosovo, which is to increase to 180 troops in 2021, thus reaffirming the army’s readiness to invest in regional peace and security.

Ministers also agreed to expand NATO’s training mission in Iraq to help the Iraqi forces fight terrorism and stabilise their country, with Shekerinska saying that North Macedonia would send five members within a mobile training and advisory team, part of the A5 initiative.

Regarding the 20th anniversary of UN Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, meeting participants stressed the enormous progress that has been made in the inclusion of the gender perspective in all segments of the operations of the Alliance and member-states, while noting there is room for further improvement.

Minister Shekerinska said North Macedonia has adopted the second action plan for implementation of the resolution and is committed to involving women in defense through an inclusive process that focuses not only on numbers but also active use of women’s capacities in the defense processes, reads the press release.

The next meeting of NATO defense ministers will be held at the start of 2021.