Skopje, 3 September 2022 (MIA) – Defense Minister Slavjanka Petrovska met Saturday in Belgrade with Serbian counterpart Nebojsa Stefanovic, discussing a number of topics including bilateral defense cooperation and active participation in regional initiatives that generate stronger regional security and stability. At the meeting held on the sidelines of the Open Balkan summit, Minister Petrovska said North Macedonia and Serbia are neighboring and friendly countries, which excellent inter-state cooperation can be reflected in the defense domain. Petrovska and Stefanovic agreed that active participation in regional initiatives, such as the South Eastern Europe Defence Ministerial (SEDM), Balkan Medical Task Force, B-9 Chiefs of Staff and Centre for Security Cooperation-RACVIAC, is in the interest of both North Macedonia and Serbia, the Defense Ministry said in a press release. Interlocutors also referred to the continued cooperation in the field of public relations, considering that part of the certified media trainers from the Public Affairs Regional Center (PARC) based in Skopje come from the Republic of Serbia.