Conflict prevention, maintaining peace and stability, rule of law without exception, adherence to international law, protection of human rights and freedoms and peaceful settlement of disputes and misunderstandings are the common Euro-Atlantic values that all regional countries should aspire to, towards mutual overcoming of all barriers from the past, said Minister of Interior Oliver Spasovski in the address at Monday’s final planning conference for the first NATO Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) international exercise.

Minister Spasovski said all countries in the region are expected to focus on the common values and objectives, thus ensuring prosperity, sustainability and stability.

“In recent years, Republic of North Macedonia has demonstrated through action this is not only possible but the only acceptable solution for contemporary challenges. The contemporary challenges – organized crime, illegal migration, cyber crime and cyber attacks, fake news, violent extremism and terrorism, COVID-19 pandemic – they all require a contemporary, regional approach and a common strategy for action,” said Spasovski.

Regarding the exercise due to take place in September, the MoI said its scenario focuses on the management of some of the existing threats for regional states, such as natural disasters, organized crime, illegal migration, cyber crime, fake news, rescue and assistance to citizens during a virus pandemic etc.

“Civil preparedness and maintaining the continuity of institutions’ operations during an emergency and complex security situation is of crucial significance and a fundamental obligation of NATO members when building the resilience to all threats and challenges, reaching interoperability, and the protection of life, property and personal safety of citizens,” noted Spasovski.